The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has signed an agreement endorsing the proposed Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, marking a major step forward for one of Africa’s largest energy infrastructure projects aimed at boosting regional energy security and expanding gas exports to Europe.
The agreement was signed during the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit in Abuja, reaffirming the regional bloc’s commitment to the cross-border pipeline, which will transport Nigerian natural gas through several West African countries before reaching Morocco and connecting to the European gas network.
The project is expected to strengthen regional integration while expanding access to cleaner energy across participating countries.
Stretching about 6,800 kilometres, the pipeline will run along the West African coastline, passing through 13 countries including Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania before terminating in Morocco. It is expected to become one of the world’s longest offshore gas pipelines.
The project is being jointly developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines. Once completed, it will enable Nigeria to monetise more of its vast natural gas reserves while improving access to electricity and industrial energy supplies across West Africa. The pipeline is also expected to create new export opportunities to Europe as the continent continues to diversify its energy sources.
The ECOWAS endorsement establishes the legal and institutional framework needed to coordinate the project among participating countries. It outlines governance arrangements, regulatory cooperation and commitments by member states to facilitate construction and long-term operation of the pipeline.
The pipeline is expected to complement the existing West African Gas Pipeline, which currently transports Nigerian gas to Benin, Togo and Ghana. By extending the network to additional countries, the new project aims to improve regional energy access, support industrialisation and encourage greater economic integration across West Africa.
Nigeria holds Africa’s largest proven natural gas reserves, estimated at more than 200 trillion cubic feet. Successive governments have identified gas as a key driver of economic diversification and the transition to cleaner energy, with several major infrastructure projects planned to increase domestic utilisation and export capacity.
Although financing and construction timelines are yet to be finalised, the ECOWAS agreement represents one of the strongest political endorsements the project has received since it was first proposed in 2016.
If completed, the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline is expected to transform West Africa’s energy landscape by expanding regional gas infrastructure, strengthening energy security and creating a new export corridor linking Africa to European markets.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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