The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) Project has recorded a major milestone following the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) by Heads of State of ECOWAS member countries during the regional bloc’s summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The agreement provided the legal and institutional framework for the implementation of the ambitious transcontinental gas pipeline, which is expected to strengthen regional energy security, boost industrialisation, and deepen economic integration across West Africa.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, Andy Odeh, the project will transport about 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas annually through a nearly 6,900-kilometre pipeline stretching from Nigeria to Morocco via 13 Atlantic coastal countries, with interconnections to landlocked Sahel nations.
Jointly promoted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), the pipeline aims to connect West Africa’s vast gas reserves to regional and European markets through the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline.
The latest signing gave practical effect to the approval granted at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja in December 2024. It also concludes the institutional process initiated after the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding signed by Nigeria and Morocco.
A separate signing ceremony involving Morocco and Mauritania is expected to complete the intergovernmental framework for the project.
NNPC said significant preparatory work has already been completed, including Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, route reconnaissance surveys, environmental and social impact studies, as well as the development of legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks.
The project, conceived under the shared vision of late former President Muhammadu Buhari and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, continue to enjoy the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ECOWAS member states and international partners.
Speaking on the development, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the signing as a critical milestone that provides the sovereign backing needed to move the project from planning to execution.
He said the pipeline is central to Nigeria’s strategy of delivering about three billion cubic feet of gas per day to domestic and international markets, adding that NNPC Ltd. remains committed to co-leading the project with ONHYM.
Also speaking, Director General of ONHYM, Mrs. Amina Benkhadra, described the agreement as another major milestone towards realising a strategic project that aligns with the vision of King Mohammed VI for an integrated Atlantic Africa.
Upon completion of the remaining signatures, the project partners will establish the Pipeline Higher Authority (PHA) in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca to coordinate implementation and prepare for the Final Investment Decision (FID).
The pipeline is expected to enhance regional gas supply, support electricity generation, stimulate industrial growth, create employment opportunities and strengthen Africa’s role in global energy markets.
