By Seun Ibiyemi
The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) project has received a major boost after Heads of State and Government of member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) signed the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the multi-billion-dollar energy initiative at the regional bloc’s summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The latest endorsement by West African leaders gives practical effect to the approval granted at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Summit held in Abuja in December 2024 and reinforces the commitment of participating countries to the project.
A subsequent ceremony involving the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania is expected to complete the intergovernmental framework required to move the project from planning to implementation.
Initiated under the shared vision of former President Muhammadu Buhari and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the project continues to enjoy strong sovereign support under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governments of participating countries.
Jointly promoted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), the AAGP is designed to unlock West Africa’s vast gas reserves, connect them to major demand centres and establish a strategic development corridor linking West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco and Europe.
The 6,900-kilometre pipeline will run from Nigeria to Morocco through 13 Atlantic coastal countries, with interconnections extending to landlocked Sahel nations.
With a planned annual capacity of 30 billion cubic metres of gas, including up to 15 billion cubic metres for Morocco and European markets, the project is expected to strengthen regional energy security, support electricity generation, promote industrialisation and create employment opportunities across West Africa.
Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the signing of the agreement as a critical milestone in the realisation of the project.
“This milestone reflects the clear mandate of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” Ojulari said.
“The AAGP is central to delivering that mandate by providing the infrastructure required to bring about three billion cubic feet of Nigerian gas per day to market. NNPC Limited is proud to co-lead this endeavour with ONHYM.”
According to him, the agreement provides the sovereign foundation required to advance the project and deepen regional integration across the continent.
Director-General of ONHYM, Mrs Amina Benkhadra, also described the signing ceremony as another major milestone in the implementation of the pipeline project.
“The project fully reflects His Majesty’s vision for an integrated Atlantic Africa,” she said.
Benkhadra noted that the pipeline would strengthen energy access, support electricity generation, promote industrial development, enable value addition to natural resources and create sustainable employment across the region.
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The project, jointly led by NNPC Ltd. and ONHYM, is also expected to establish a new energy corridor connecting Africa and Europe through its linkage with the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline.
Significant progress has already been recorded on the project, including the completion of Front-End Engineering Design studies, route reconnaissance surveys, environmental and social impact assessments, and the development of key legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks.
Following the signing by Morocco and Mauritania, the participating countries are expected to establish the Pipeline Higher Authority in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca to oversee implementation and prepare for the Final Investment Decision.
NNPC Ltd. and ONHYM reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the project is delivered in line with international standards of technical excellence, environmental sustainability and good governance.
