ECOWAS Leaders Sign Historic Agreement to Advance African Atlantic Gas Pipeline
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) Project has received a major boost following the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) by Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the regional bloc’s summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The agreement marks a significant step towards the implementation of one of Africa’s most ambitious energy infrastructure projects, aimed at unlocking West Africa’s abundant natural gas resources, expanding regional energy access, and strengthening economic integration across the continent.
The AAGP, jointly being developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), will stretch nearly 6,900 kilometres along the Atlantic coast, linking Nigeria to Morocco through 13 coastal countries, while also providing connections to landlocked Sahel nations.
With an annual capacity of 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas, the pipeline will supply regional markets and export up to 15 bcm to Morocco and Europe through its connection to the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline.
The latest agreement gives practical effect to the approval granted during the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja in December 2024. It also concludes the institutional process initiated after the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding signed by Nigeria and Morocco.
A separate ceremony is expected to complete the intergovernmental framework with the signatures of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
The project, initiated under the leadership of former President Muhammadu Buhari and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, continues to enjoy the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to NNPC Ltd., significant milestones have already been achieved, including the completion of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, route reconnaissance surveys, progress on environmental and social impact assessments, and the establishment of legal, regulatory, and commercial frameworks necessary for implementation.
Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the signing as a critical milestone that provides the sovereign backing required to move the project from planning to execution.
He said the project aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of expanding Nigeria’s gas market by delivering about three billion cubic feet of gas per day through world-class infrastructure.
Director General of ONHYM, Mrs. Amina Benkhadra, described the agreement as another landmark achievement in the realisation of the strategic project, noting that it reflects the vision of King Mohammed VI for an integrated Atlantic Africa while strengthening the partnership between Morocco and Nigeria.
Upon the completion of the remaining signatures by Morocco and Mauritania, the project will establish the Pipeline Higher Authority (PHA) in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca to coordinate implementation and prepare for the Final Investment Decision (FID).
The AAGP is expected to improve energy security, boost electricity generation, drive industrialisation, create jobs, encourage value addition to natural resources, and strengthen regional economic integration across West Africa.
