Heads of State from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have signed a landmark Intergovernmental Agreement for the ambitious African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project, marking a significant step toward unlocking vast energy resources across the region.
The $25 billion pipeline, jointly promoted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), is designed to stretch nearly 6,900 kilometres along the West African Atlantic coast. It aims to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually, connecting Nigeria’s gas resources with markets across West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco, and Europe.
The agreement, signed at the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown over the weekend, provides the necessary sovereign backing to advance the project. It builds on a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and Morocco, following approval at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Summit in Abuja in December 2024. The remaining step involves signatures from the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
According to a statement from NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the project will create a new energy corridor linking the West African coast to the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline. Up to 15 billion cubic metres of the pipeline’s annual capacity could reach Morocco and European markets.
“This milestone reflects the clear mandate of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. The AAGP is central to delivering that mandate by providing the infrastructure required to bring about 3 bcf/d of Nigerian gas to market. NNPC Limited is proud to co-lead this endeavour with ONHYM,” said NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bashir Bayo Ojulari.
The Director-General of ONHYM, Amina Benkhadra, echoed the optimism, describing the development as another major milestone. “This event represents another major milestone in the realisation of the AAGP, a strategic project jointly developed by ONHYM and NNPC Ltd. under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” she said. “The Project fully reflects His Majesty’s vision for an integrated Atlantic Africa.”
Initiated under the shared vision of the late President Muhammadu Buhari and King Mohammed VI, the project continues to enjoy strong support from President Tinubu. Significant preparatory work—including Front-End Engineering Design studies, route surveys, environmental assessments, and legal frameworks—has already been completed, positioning it for the next phase of implementation.
The pipeline will run from Nigeria through 13 Atlantic coastal countries, with interconnections to landlocked Sahel nations. Beyond gas transport, it is expected to boost electricity generation, enhance energy access, drive industrialisation, and foster new industrial value chains while deepening regional integration.
Following the full intergovernmental framework, a Pipeline Higher Authority will be established in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca to oversee implementation and prepare for the Final Investment Decision.
For Nigeria, with its vast gas reserves hampered by infrastructure constraints, the AAGP offers a critical export route and a boost to domestic and regional energy supply. The project aligns with broader continental efforts to expand gas infrastructure amid electricity shortages and the push for energy security and industrial growth.
Promoters remain committed to international standards of technical excellence, environmental responsibility, and good governance as the project advances toward construction.
