The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project has recorded a major breakthrough after Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), paving the way for the implementation of one of Africa’s most ambitious cross-border energy infrastructure projects.
The agreement was signed during the ECOWAS Summit held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, marking a significant step toward the realisation of the pipeline, which is expected to transform regional energy security, stimulate industrialisation and strengthen economic integration across West Africa and beyond.
The AAGP is a strategic energy corridor designed to transport 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas annually across nearly 6,900 kilometres from Nigeria to Morocco through 13 Atlantic coastal countries, with interconnections extending to landlocked Sahel nations. The project will also link to the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline, creating a new export route to Morocco and European markets.
Jointly developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), the pipeline enjoys sovereign backing from Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania and participating ECOWAS member states.
The latest agreement operationalises the approval granted by ECOWAS leaders during their 66th Ordinary Summit in Abuja in December 2024 and concludes the institutional process initiated after Nigeria and Morocco signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022.
A separate signing ceremony involving Morocco and Mauritania is expected to complete the project’s intergovernmental framework.
Originally conceived under the leadership of former President Muhammadu Buhari and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, the project continues to receive the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and has emerged as a flagship initiative for regional energy cooperation.
NNPC said substantial progress has already been made, including the completion of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, route reconnaissance surveys, environmental and social impact assessments, as well as the development of legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks required for implementation.
The project is expected to strengthen energy access across West Africa, boost electricity generation, promote industrial development, create employment opportunities and establish new regional value chains through increased utilisation of the continent’s vast natural gas reserves.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement as a defining milestone that provides the sovereign backing needed to move the project from planning to execution.
According to him, the pipeline aligns with President Tinubu’s energy agenda by providing the infrastructure required to bring about 3 billion cubic feet of Nigerian gas per day to domestic and international markets.
Similarly, Director General of ONHYM, Mrs. Amina Benkhadra, said the agreement represents another significant milestone in the implementation of the AAGP, describing the project as a reflection of King Mohammed VI’s vision for an integrated Atlantic Africa and President Tinubu’s commitment to regional economic development.
Upon completion of the remaining intergovernmental formalities, the project partners will establish the Pipeline Higher Authority (PHA) in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca to oversee execution and prepare for the project’s Final Investment Decision (FID).
NNPC Limited and ONHYM reaffirmed their commitment to delivering the project in line with international standards of engineering excellence, environmental sustainability and good governance, expressing confidence that the pipeline will become a catalyst for economic growth and energy security across Africa and beyond.
