The bilateral relations between Morocco and Nigeria have improved a lot in recent years, especially after the visit of the Moroccan king, Mohamed VI, to Nigeria in December 2016 and that of President Muhammadu Buhari to Morocco in June 2018.
This sudden shift in the bilateral relations came after many years of diplomatic clashes between the two countries over the Sahara issue. Nigeria was one of the few African countries opposite Morocco in its legitimate claim of its sovereignty over Sahara provinces.
Besides Algeria and South Africa, Nigeria formed a powerful triangle against Morocco in favor of the separatist 'POLISARIO,' so Morocco had to make great efforts to keep fighting this triangle's false claims until it succeeded in convincing Nigeria to change its position.
The recent developments in the Sahara issue, especially the United States' recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Sahara, revealed that Algeria and South Africa are the only two African nations who still dream POLISARIO could establish an independent country in the south of Morocco.
The US recognition was another prove that Nigeria doesn't agree with Algeria and South Africa anymore. It didn't announce any attitude, which means that this biggest African nation in terms of population is getting closer and closer to the Moroccan side.
The Moroccan realistic approach has proved that mutual interests effectively convince others to join you, as long as every country is looking for its own interests in the first degree.
According to many observers, Morocco didn't invite Nigeria to change its attitude towards the Sahara issue using rhetoric, it put mutual interests on the table, and the Nigerians welcomed the approach, and the bilateral relations started to improve gradually.
Two days ago, King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, had a telephone conversation with the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, where the two leaders have expressed their determination to carry out the strategic projects between the two countries.
During these talks, the two Heads of State welcomed the positive dynamic in bilateral relations in all fields. They affirmed their will to carry out, as soon as possible, the strategic projects between the two countries, particularly the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and the creation of a fertilizer production plant in Nigeria.
These strategic projects will guide the two countries to keep a warm bilateral relation for decades to come, especially that both countries need these significant projects, Gas Pipeline for Morocco (Nigeria one of the biggest producers of Gas in the world), and fertilizer production plant for Nigeria (Morocco is the largest producers of phosphates and fertilizers in the world).
The two countries would benefit from each other, no doubt about that. However, Morocco seems the most beneficiary as long as it succeeded in bringing Nigeria to its side for the benefit of the Sahara issue.
