Nigeria-Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Gets ECOWAS Backing

Heads of state of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed an Intergovernmental Agreement for the Nigeria‑Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) during the summit in Freetown on July 19. The nearly 6,800‑kilometre pipeline will run through 13 Atlantic‑coastal countries, linking Nigeria’s gas supplies to Morocco and onward to the European gas market via the Maghreb‑Europe pipeline.

Jointly developed by Nigeria’s National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd.) and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), the project is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year, with half earmarked for Morocco and Europe and the rest for West African markets. Estimated at about US$25 billion, it aims to boost electricity generation, industrial development and regional energy integration. The agreement establishes a Higher Pipeline Authority in Abuja and a project company in Casablanca, paving the way for investor mobilisation and a final investment decision. The initiative was first championed by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and current President Bola Tinubu.