The proposed African Atlantic Gas Pipeline has moved closer to implementation after Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States signed the Intergovernmental Agreement for the project at the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, at the weekend.

The agreement provides the sovereign backing required to advance the ambitious pipeline project, which is designed to link Nigeria’s gas resources with markets across West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco and Europe.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Andy Odeh.

The AAGP, which is being jointly promoted by NNPC Limited and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines, is planned to stretch nearly 6,900 kilometres along the West African Atlantic coast.

The pipeline is expected to transport 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually, connecting gas-producing countries with major demand centres and landlocked countries in the Sahel.

The project is also expected to create a new energy corridor linking the West African coast to the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline, thereby opening a route for African gas to reach Morocco and European markets.

The statement read, “The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project has received a major boost towards its actualisation as the Heads of State of ECOWAS Member States have signed the Intergovernmental Agreement for the project at the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, at the weekend.

“The AAGP is a transformative regional infrastructure project designed to unlock West Africa’s vast natural gas resources, connect them to major demand centres, integrate African energy markets, and establish a strategic development corridor linking West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco, and Europe.”

According to NNPC, up to 15 billion cubic metres of the pipeline’s annual capacity could be supplied to Morocco and European markets.

The company said the project would support electricity generation, improve energy access, drive industrialisation and facilitate the development of new industrial value chains across the region.

The agreement signed by the ECOWAS member states gives effect to the approval granted at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Summit held in Abuja in December 2024.

It also concludes the institutional process coordinated by ECOWAS following the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding signed by Nigeria and Morocco on the project.

The remaining step in completing the intergovernmental framework will be the signing of the agreement by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

The project was initiated under the shared vision of the late President Muhammadu Buhari and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and continues to receive the support of President Bola Tinubu.

Significant preparatory work has already been completed, including Front-End Engineering Design studies, route reconnaissance surveys, environmental and social studies, as well as key legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks.

According to NNPC, these milestones have positioned the project for the next stage of implementation. The pipeline will run from Nigeria through 13 Atlantic coastal countries, with interconnections serving landlocked Sahel nations.

The statement added, “Designed to deliver 30 billion cubic metres of gas per year, the project has sovereign backing from Nigeria, Morocco, ECOWAS member countries, and Mauritania, and spans nearly 6,900 kilometres along the West African Atlantic coast.

“Jointly led by NNPC Ltd and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines, the project is intended to strengthen energy access, drive industrialisation, and deepen regional integration across the continent.”

Beyond transporting gas, the project is expected to deepen regional integration by connecting African energy markets and supporting the development of industries that depend on reliable and affordable gas supply.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, said the signing by the West African leaders provided the sovereign foundation required to move the project from planning to delivery.

“This milestone reflects the clear mandate of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. 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,” Ojulari said.

The project’s planned capacity is significant for Nigeria, which has one of the largest natural gas reserves in Africa but has continued to face infrastructure constraints that limit its ability to fully monetise those resources.

The AAGP is therefore expected to provide a major export route while also supporting domestic and regional energy demand. For countries across West Africa and the Sahel, the pipeline could provide access to additional gas supplies for power generation and industrial development.

The Director-General of ONHYM, Amina Benkhadra, described the latest development as another major milestone in the realisation of the project. She said the project reflected the shared vision of the Nigerian and Moroccan governments for an integrated Atlantic Africa.

“This event represents another major milestone in the realisation of the AAGP, a strategic project jointly developed by ONHYM and NNPC Ltd. under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” Benkhadra said.

“The Project fully reflects His Majesty’s vision for an integrated Atlantic Africa.”

Following the planned signatures by Morocco and Mauritania, the Pipeline Higher Authority will be established in Abuja, while the AAGP Project Company will be established in Casablanca.

The two institutions will oversee implementation of the project and prepare it for the Final Investment Decision. The project promoters said they remained committed to advancing the pipeline in accordance with international standards of technical excellence, environmental responsibility and good governance.

The AAGP is expected to become one of Africa’s most significant energy infrastructure projects, connecting gas resources in Nigeria and other West African countries to regional markets and the international energy system.

Its development also comes at a time when countries across the continent are seeking to expand gas infrastructure to address electricity shortages, support industrialisation and increase energy security.

For Nigeria, the project offers an opportunity to expand the monetisation of its vast gas reserves, increase export earnings and strengthen its position as a major supplier in the emerging African gas market.

With the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement by ECOWAS member states, the project has now moved beyond its initial political and planning stages, bringing it closer to the institutional structures and investment decisions required for construction.