The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially approved the $27 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, a monumental infrastructure initiative aimed at transporting up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Nigeria through 13 countries to Morocco and eventually connecting to Europe.
This agreement was finalized during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority in Lungi, Sierra Leone, where heads of state signed the Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA), marking the project’s move from planning to implementation.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, representing a delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, expressed his enthusiasm about the unanimous approval from member states, describing it as a pivotal achievement for regional energy collaboration.
Ekpo emphasized that the pipeline project is set to unlock Nigeria’s substantial natural gas reserves estimated at 215.19 trillion cubic feet, the largest in Africa. He noted the project’s potential to not only enhance energy security within the region but also foster economic growth through exports and job creation in various sectors.
Additionally, the ECOWAS Chairman and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, affirmed the significance of the initiative, indicating that the regional leaders are committed to bringing the project to fruition. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) have noted the project’s goal to connect West Africa’s gas resources with key markets across the region.
The pipeline, initially proposed during Moroccan King Mohammed VI’s visit to Nigeria in 2016, is gaining relevance as alternative energy pathways become crucial for West Africa, especially following Algeria’s cessation of gas supplies to Spain in 2022. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2028, with the first gas deliveries expected by 2031, promising to enhance energy access, regional integration, and industrialization across West Africa.
