The Nigeria Guardian
BY OGHOGHO OBAYUWANA FEATURES -POLICY & POLITICS
FOLLOWING its remarkable survival of the gale of revolt, which has come to be known as the Arab Spring, and a new push towards intense beneficial relations with Sub-Saharan African countries, the Morocco used the marking of its national day recently in Abuja to express a strong desire for greater economic relations with Nigeria.
Every country that has a mission in another country is forever seeking ways to improve ties with its hosts. But in the instance under review, practical demonstrations were made, as to exactly how a strategic kind of relationship would benefit Nigeria economically.
The national day of the North African country, which is a major gateway to Europe through the famous Tangier strait, was the first to be held in Nigeria, after Morocco successfully held a popular referendum, spelling a new democratic order.
The country has also sent a new envoy to Africa’s most populous country and largest market, Mostafa Bouh, who believes that sustainable development and gainful employment of citizens across countries could be achieved through intra-African trade and investments.
And the audience had to be the right one: Members of the diplomatic community accredited to Nigeria, top government functionaries and captains of industry.
Bouh told them all: “It is very important for Morocco to deepen the bilateral relations with Nigeria in many fields and for the benefit of the two countries…
“I will like to say in this regard that the Moroccan embassy and the entire Mission in Nigeria is now making a lot of efforts to maintain and improve these relations.”
Referring to his country’s surviving of the social and political dislocation consequent upon the Arab Spring, the envoy noted: “I will like to make it known that Morocco has achieved huge democratic reforms launched last year by King Mohamed V1.
“A national referendum held in July adopted a new constitution that strengthens the individual freedoms and that led to a fairly elected government.”
Following the resurgence of economic diplomacy as the foreign policy thrust of the Nigerian government, the North African country had earlier made known its readiness for “an enhanced, strategic economic relations with Nigeria.”
Besides, to bolster trade, the Moroccan government officials have constantly expressed the desire of their country to build on the direct air link between Lagos and Casablanca, which started four years ago, so that among others, certain categories of goods produced in Morocco do not have to go through Europe before reaching Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan was among the world’s leaders that sent a letter of appreciation to Moroccan King Sidi Moulay Mohammed, following the referendum that changed the constitutional face of Morocco.
By the tenets of a new draft constitution now in place, the authorities in the country are now embarking on sweeping reforms meant to change the face of the kingdom to suit today’s democratic realities and a consolidation of the multi-party system that the moderate state has always craved.
In the 45-point draft, Morocco would now have a new President and head of government, replacing the hitherto existing position of prime minister.
Also, the right to freedom of worship would be reinstituted, while the king, much like the scenario in the United Kingdom (UK), is now akin to a ceremonial head of state, commander of the faithful and the royal arbiter that would guarantee the unity and security of the country, like any modern western democracy with a monarch.
Foreign ministry desk experts have variously posited that Nigeria and Morocco have a lot to gain in trade exchanges and economic collaboration.
In February this year, Morocco inaugurated in Tangiers a 1.1 billion Euros Renault-Nissan plant, with a production capacity of 30 vehicles/hour in 2012 and 60 vehicles/hour by the end of 2014.
Even though Nigeria has a fairly large market for Nissan products, it has not made any concrete plan to have a plant on its shores.
Meanwhile, the Tangiers projection, for instance, is for an industrial capacity of 400,000 cars per year. The newly built plant is also expected to generate 6,000 direct and 30,000 indirect ones.
Since June this year, when the National Initiative for Development (INDH), was inaugurated, following an earlier launch in 2005, various anti-poverty programmes, including that which combines social engineering, the fight against social insecurity and social exclusion in urban areas and poverty in the rural areas, have been reportedly brought together.
This set the tone for the improvement of the living conditions of the population, promoting the capacities of women and youth and ensuring their socio-economic integration through revenue generating exertions.
A closer tie between the two countries is thought, today, to be able engender similar strides in Nigeria.
Author of this article: By Oghogho Obayuwana
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