Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have endorsed an intergovernmental agreement that moves the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) closer to reality.
The multi-billion-dollar project, expected to span about 6,900 kilometres, is designed to transport Nigerian natural gas through 13 West African countries before connecting to Morocco and European markets.
In a statement released on Monday night, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Andy Odeh, said the agreement represents a major breakthrough in efforts to begin the implementation of the pipeline initiative.
Odeh disclosed that the agreement was signed during the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit held in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
He said the pipeline project would help unlock West Africa’s gas potential, link energy markets across the region and establish a major energy route connecting West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco and Europe.
The AAGP is expected to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas annually along the Atlantic coastline, with Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania and other ECOWAS countries supporting its development.
The project is being jointly developed by NNPC Ltd. and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM).
According to Odeh, the signing gives 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.
He added that the agreement concludes the institutional process coordinated by ECOWAS following the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and Morocco, reaffirming the commitment of participating countries to the project.
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, described the agreement as a critical step towards transforming the pipeline project from a strategic plan into an operational reality.
Ojulari said the initiative would play a key role in harnessing Nigeria’s gas resources and providing infrastructure capable of delivering about three billion cubic feet of gas daily to markets.
Similarly, the Director-General of ONHYM, Amina Benkhadra, said the agreement marked another important achievement in the development of the pipeline, noting that it reflected the shared commitment of Morocco and Nigeria to regional integration and stronger energy cooperation.
Odeh further stated that Morocco and Mauritania would later sign the agreement to complete the intergovernmental framework for the project.
The pipeline project, which began during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and with the support of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, has continued under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Several preparatory activities, including engineering design studies, route surveys, environmental and social impact assessments, as well as legal, regulatory and commercial arrangements, have already been concluded.
The pipeline will run from Nigeria through 13 Atlantic coastal countries to Morocco, while also linking landlocked Sahel countries through interconnections.
Upon completion, the project is expected to connect with the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline, creating an energy corridor with a yearly capacity of 30 bcm, including up to 15 bcm for Morocco and European markets.
The initiative is projected to improve gas supply, boost electricity generation, encourage industrial growth, create business opportunities and generate employment across West Africa.
Following the agreement, the Pipeline Higher Authority will be established in Abuja, while the AAGP Project Company will be based in Casablanca to supervise project execution and prepare for the Final Investment Decision (FID).