ECOWAS Signs Landmark Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline Agreement
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
By Atlantic Digest News Desk
West African leaders have signed the long-awaited intergovernmental agreement for the Nigeria–Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, marking a major milestone for one of Africa’s most ambitious cross-border energy infrastructure projects.
The agreement was endorsed during the 69th Ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, paving the way for the implementation of a pipeline expected to transform regional energy trade and strengthen economic integration across West Africa.
The proposed pipeline, estimated to stretch between 6,000 and 6,900 kilometres, is projected to cost between 25 billion and 27 billion US dollars. It will transport natural gas from Nigeria through 13 West African countries along the Atlantic coastline to Morocco before linking with the existing Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline, which connects Morocco to Spain and the wider European gas network.
When completed, the pipeline is expected to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually, with approximately half of the supply destined for Morocco and European markets, while the remainder will support energy access, industrialisation and electricity generation across participating West African countries.
The landmark project is being jointly developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM). First proposed during King Mohammed VI’s official visit to Abuja in 2016, the initiative has endured years of technical, financial and diplomatic negotiations before reaching its current stage.
Project officials disclosed that Morocco and Mauritania are expected to conclude separate implementation frameworks before the establishment of a Pipeline Higher Authority in Abuja and a dedicated project company headquartered in Casablanca. These structures will prepare the project for a Final Investment Decision (FID), regarded as the final approval before construction begins.
Outgoing ECOWAS Chairman and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, described the signing as a historic achievement for regional cooperation, expressing confidence that the project would accelerate economic growth, improve energy security and deepen integration among member states.
The NNPC also hailed the agreement as the foundation for a new energy and development corridor linking West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco and Europe. The company said the pipeline would stimulate investment, create employment opportunities and expand access to cleaner energy across the continent.
Energy analysts believe the project could significantly reshape Africa’s gas industry by opening new export markets while strengthening regional energy infrastructure. However, they caution that financing, security concerns and coordination among participating countries will remain critical to the project’s successful execution.
If completed as planned, the Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline is expected to become one of the largest energy infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Africa, reinforcing the continent’s growing role in global energy supply and regional economic development.
