The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has signed an intergovernmental agreement supporting the development of the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), according to a joint statement from Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and Nigeria’s NNPC Ltd.
The agreement was signed by leaders of participating ECOWAS member states during the regional bloc’s summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, marking a key step towards advancing the long-planned gas infrastructure project.
The AAGP is expected to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas annually from Nigeria and other West African gas-producing countries through 13 West African nations to Morocco.
Under the project framework, about 15 bcm of gas per year will be delivered to Moroccan and European markets through the existing pipeline connection between Morocco and Spain.
ONHYM and NNPC described the pipeline as a major regional infrastructure initiative aimed at unlocking West Africa’s natural gas potential, linking producers with major markets, strengthening energy integration across Africa and creating a development corridor connecting West Africa, the Sahel region, Morocco and Europe.
The agreement formalises 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 completes the institutional process coordinated by ECOWAS following the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and Morocco, reinforcing the commitment of participating countries to the project.
The signing paves the way for the next stage of implementation, which includes the establishment of the project company, to be headquartered in Casablanca, and the creation of the Pipeline Higher Authority (PHA), which will serve as the project’s governing institution in Abuja.
According to ONHYM and NNPC, these structures will support efforts to attract investors and prepare the project for a Final Investment Decision (FID).
A final signing ceremony is expected to take place in Morocco, where Morocco and Mauritania will formally sign the agreement in the presence of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The project, initially launched under former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, continues to receive support from the current Nigerian administration.
The statement noted that key preparatory activities have already been completed, including front-end engineering design (FEED) studies, route surveys, environmental and social impact assessments, as well as the development of major legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks.
The Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline will extend along the Atlantic coast from Nigeria to Morocco, passing through 13 coastal West African countries and including connections to landlocked Sahel nations to improve regional access to natural gas.