The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) moved closer to reality at the weekend after Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the multibillion-dollar regional energy project during the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The agreement marks a major milestone in the implementation of one of Africa's largest energy infrastructure projects, designed to connect West Africa's vast natural gas reserves with regional and international markets while boosting industrialisation, electricity access and economic integration across the continent.
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, jointly promoted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Morocco's Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), will span approximately 6,900 kilometres along the Atlantic coast, stretching from Nigeria to Morocco through 13 West African coastal countries. It will also provide interconnections to landlocked Sahel nations.
With a planned annual transportation capacity of 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas, the pipeline will be linked to the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline, creating a new energy corridor capable of supplying up to 15 bcm of gas annually to Morocco and European markets.
According to NNPC Ltd., the latest signing 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 coordinated by ECOWAS following the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Nigeria and Morocco in 2022.
The project enjoys sovereign backing from Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania and ECOWAS member states and is expected to strengthen regional energy security, expand electricity generation, stimulate industrial development, encourage value addition to natural resources and create thousands of jobs across West Africa.
A separate signing ceremony involving Morocco and Mauritania is expected to complete the intergovernmental framework for the project.
The initiative was conceived under the shared vision of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Morocco's King Mohammed VI and continues to receive the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Significant preparatory work has already been completed ahead of implementation. These include the completion of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, route reconnaissance surveys, environmental and social impact studies, as well as the development of key legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks.
Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the agreement as a critical step towards delivering the ambitious regional infrastructure project.
"This milestone reflects the clear mandate of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR," Ojulari said.
"The AAGP is central to delivering that mandate by providing the infrastructure required to bring about 3 billion cubic feet of Nigerian gas to market. NNPC Limited is proud to co-lead this endeavour with ONHYM."
Also speaking, the Director General of ONHYM, Mrs. Amina Benkhadra, said the signing represented another major milestone in the realisation of the strategic project jointly developed by Morocco and Nigeria.
According to her, the pipeline embodies the vision of King Mohammed VI for an integrated Atlantic Africa while also advancing the shared commitment of both countries to regional development.
"The Project fully reflects His Majesty's vision for an integrated Atlantic Africa," Benkhadra stated.
Following the completion of the remaining intergovernmental agreements, the partners will establish the Pipeline Higher Authority (PHA) in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca. The two institutions will coordinate project implementation and prepare for the Final Investment Decision (FID).
NNPC Ltd. and ONHYM reaffirmed their commitment to delivering the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline in line with international standards of technical excellence, environmental sustainability and good governance.
Once completed, the pipeline is expected to become one of Africa's most strategic energy corridors, accelerating regional integration, enhancing energy access and positioning West Africa as a major supplier of natural gas to both African and European markets.