ECOWAS signs agreement to advance Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project

A major milestone has been reached for the ambitious Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project with the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This agreement, inked by Heads of State and Government at the 69th Ordinary ECOWAS Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, establishes the crucial legal and sovereign framework for the 6,900-kilometer pipeline.

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The agreement gives practical effect to the approval granted by ECOWAS leaders during their December 2024 summit in Abuja.

The AAGP is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. Its route will traverse 13 West African coastal nations, originating in Nigeria and terminating in Morocco, with potential extensions to European markets. The project is a joint endeavor between Nigeria's National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Morocco's Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM).

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The pipeline would improve energy access, support industrialisation, strengthen regional integration and create a strategic energy corridor linking West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco and Europe.

NNPC Ltd. hailed the signing as a pivotal advancement, giving practical effect to prior approvals from ECOWAS leaders. The company anticipates the pipeline will significantly improve energy access across the region, stimulate industrial development, foster stronger regional ties, and establish a vital energy conduit connecting West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco, and Europe. Key preparatory stages, including Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, environmental assessments, and the development of legal and commercial frameworks, have reportedly been completed.

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the agreement as the foundation required to move the project from planning to execution.

NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, stated that the IGA provides the necessary foundation for transitioning the project from planning to execution. He emphasized its alignment with President Bola Tinubu's vision to leverage Nigeria's gas resources. ONHYM Director-General, Mrs. Amina Benkhadra, echoed the significance of the agreement, highlighting it as a reflection of the shared commitment between Morocco's King Mohammed VI and President Tinubu to deepen African cooperation. Further signings are expected with Morocco and Mauritania to finalize the intergovernmental framework before the establishment of dedicated authorities in Abuja and Casablanca to oversee implementation and prepare for the Final Investment Decision.

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another major achievement for the strategic initiative, noting that it reflected the shared vision of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and President Tinubu for deeper African cooperation.