The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project has secured a major regulatory and political breakthrough following the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) by the Heads of State of ECOWAS Member States.
The agreement, signed during the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, gives effect to the approval granted at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Summit in Abuja in December 2024. It also concludes the institutional process coordinated by the regional bloc following the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Morocco.
Announcing the development in a statement on Monday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said that a subsequent ceremony is expected to complete the intergovernmental framework with signatures from the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
The pipeline, which will run from Nigeria to Morocco through 13 Atlantic Coastal Countries, with strategic interconnections built in to serve landlocked Sahel nations, is linked directly to the Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline and will allocate up to 15 bcm of its annual capacity for supply to Morocco and European markets.
The AAGP, a transformative regional infrastructure asset, spans nearly 6,900 kilometres along the West African Atlantic coast and is designed to deliver up to 30 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per year, unlocking West Africa’s vast natural gas resources to connect them to major domestic and international demand centres.
Jointly led by NNPC Ltd and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), the project is intended to strengthen energy access, drive industrialisation, and deepen regional integration across the continent.
Commenting on the project, Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, said the signing by West African Heads of State gives the AAGP the sovereign foundation required to move from vision to delivery.
“This milestone reflects the clear mandate of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” he added. “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.”
According to the NNPC, the project has recorded significant progress including completion of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, finalisation of route reconnaissance surveys, advancement of environmental and social studies, and establishment of key legal, regulatory, and commercial frameworks.
“These milestones position the project for implementation. The AAGP will run from Nigeria to Morocco through thirteen Atlantic coastal countries, with interconnections serving landlocked Sahel nations.
“Linked to the Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline, the AAGP will create a new energy corridor with an annual capacity of 30 billion cubic metres (bcm), including up to 15 bcm for supply to Morocco and European markets.
“It will enhance regional gas supply, support electricity generation, drive industrialisation, enable value addition to natural resources, and foster new industrial value chains and sustainable employment across West Africa,” the Company said.
Also commenting, Amina Benkhadra, Director General of ONHYM, said the event represents another major milestone in the realisation of the AAGP, a strategic project jointly developed by ONHYM and NNPC Ltd. “The Project fully reflects His Majesty’s vision for an integrated Atlantic Africa,” she said.
The Company further explained that following the forthcoming signatures by Morocco and Mauritania, the Project would establish the Pipeline Higher Authority (PHA) in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca to oversee implementation and prepare for Final Investment Decision (FID).
NNPC Ltd. and ONHYM reaffirm their commitment to advancing the AAGP in line with the highest international standards of technical excellence, environmental
responsibility and good governance.
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