The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) Project has recorded a major breakthrough 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 marks a significant step toward the implementation of the ambitious regional gas pipeline project, which is designed to unlock West Africa’s abundant natural gas resources, deepen regional energy integration and create a strategic energy corridor linking West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco and Europe.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Andy Odeh, the project will span about 6,900 kilometres along the Atlantic coast and transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually.
The pipeline, jointly promoted by NNPC Ltd. and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), enjoys the backing of Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania and ECOWAS member states. It is expected to improve energy access, support electricity generation, accelerate industrialisation and stimulate economic growth across participating countries.
NNPC said the latest signing gives 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 and concludes the institutional process coordinated by ECOWAS following the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding signed by Nigeria and Morocco.
The company noted that a separate ceremony involving Morocco and Mauritania will complete the intergovernmental framework for the project.
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.
NNPC disclosed that major preparatory milestones have already been achieved, including the completion of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, route reconnaissance surveys, environmental and social impact studies, as well as the establishment of key legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks, positioning the project for implementation.
The AAGP will run from Nigeria to Morocco through 13 Atlantic coastal countries, with connections extending to landlocked Sahel nations. It will also link to the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline, creating a new energy corridor capable of supplying up to 15 billion cubic metres of gas annually to Morocco and European markets.
Speaking on the development, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the agreement as a major milestone that provides the sovereign backing required to move the project from planning to execution.
He said the project aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of expanding Nigeria’s gas market, noting that it would provide infrastructure capable of delivering about three billion cubic feet of Nigerian gas per day to domestic and international markets.
Also commenting, Director General of ONHYM, Mrs. Amina Benkhadra, described the signing as another major step towards the realisation of the strategic project, saying it reflects the vision of King Mohammed VI for an integrated Atlantic Africa.
NNPC added that following the completion of the remaining signatures, the project will establish the Pipeline Higher Authority in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca to supervise implementation and prepare for the Final Investment Decision (FID).
The company reaffirmed its commitment, alongside ONHYM, to delivering the project in line with international standards of technical excellence, environmental sustainability and good governance.
