The Nigerian government, alongside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Morocco, and Mauritania, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the ambitious $26 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project. This significant announcement was made during the ECOWAS Inter-Ministerial Meeting on the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, held in Abuja on Monday. The meeting, which gathered ECOWAS Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Energy, as well as representatives from Morocco and Mauritania, emphasized the importance of regional collaboration to move the project forward.
Transformative Project for Regional Growth
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) is a high-profile infrastructure project designed to connect 13 African nations through a transcontinental gas pipeline, aiming to boost economic growth, foster regional integration, and address energy deficits in West Africa. Once completed, the pipeline is expected to supply natural gas to Morocco, 13 ECOWAS countries, and even extend to Europe, making it one of Africa’s largest energy initiatives.
Mele Kyari, Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), underscored the project’s significance, stressing that the decisions made at the meeting will help shape the future of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline. Represented by Olalekan Ogunleye, NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Gas, Power & New Energy, Kyari noted that the pipeline holds the potential to transform not only the regional economy but also the lives of local communities by providing much-needed access to reliable and affordable energy.
Key Milestones in Project Development
Ogunleye shared an update on the project’s progress, revealing that the front-end engineering design (FEED) is complete, and the Phase Two study has been finalized. Currently, work is underway on environmental and social impact assessments, as well as land acquisition and resettlement processes. Ogunleye highlighted these achievements as key indicators of the project’s viability and the region’s capacity to execute such a large-scale venture.
He further emphasized that the NNPC, with its vast experience in gas production, processing, transmission, and marketing, is well-positioned to lead the project’s development, ensuring its successful completion. “Our experience in executing similar projects provides us with the confidence to drive this transformative initiative,” Ogunleye stated.
A Vision for Africa’s Energy Future
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, expressed optimism about the transformative potential of the project, stating that the draft agreements under discussion could reshape Africa’s energy landscape, strengthen economies, and improve the livelihoods of millions. Ekpo also stressed the need for the agreements to reflect a commitment to advancing energy trade across ECOWAS nations and enhancing access to natural gas in the region.
Laila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, expressed enthusiasm about the pipeline’s potential to open new markets and create job opportunities, while Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the successful completion of the project.
The $26 Billion Project Breakdown
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP), originally conceived during King Mohammed VI’s visit to Nigeria in December 2016, combines two major energy initiatives. The first is the West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project, a 678 km expansion valued at $975 million. The second, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, spans 5,669 km and is estimated to cost around $25 billion.
Together, these projects will tap into Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves, helping to diversify the country’s export routes, reduce gas flaring, and boost national revenue. The pipeline will connect Nigeria’s gas-rich reserves to Morocco and provide much-needed gas to 13 ECOWAS countries and European markets, promoting both economic integration and energy security across the region.
The pipeline will run 5,300 km from Nigeria to Dakhla in Morocco, with an additional 1,700 km of onshore pipeline extending from Dakhla to northern Morocco.
A Milestone for Regional Collaboration
The AAGP project represents one of Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings, with far-reaching implications for regional energy security and economic development. As the project advances, it will require continued collaboration among governments, energy companies, and international partners to overcome challenges and ensure its successful execution. The joint commitment of Nigeria, ECOWAS, Morocco, and Mauritania marks a critical step in realizing the long-term benefits of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, potentially reshaping the continent’s energy future.