Amina Benkhadra, head of Morocco's hydrocarbons and mining agency ONHYM, announced that an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for the $25 billion Nigeria‑Morocco gas pipeline will be signed later this year. The agreement will trigger the creation of a high authority in Nigeria composed of ministerial representatives from the 13 participating countries to oversee political and regulatory matters. A joint‑venture project company, formed between ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, will manage execution, financing and construction.

The venture, called the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, was first agreed a decade ago and will span 6,900 km on a hybrid offshore‑onshore route. Its maximum capacity is set at 30 billion cubic metres, with 15 bcm earmarked for Morocco and onward exports to Europe. Feasibility and front‑end engineering design studies are complete, and ECOWAS backs the project.

Initial sections will link Morocco to gas fields in Mauritania and Senegal, then connect Ghana to Côte d'Ivoire, and finally join Ghana to Nigeria's gas fields. Benkhadra said the first gas is expected in 2031 and that each segment is designed as a "standalone system" to allow early value creation. While investor interest is strong, no final funding commitments have been secured; financing will combine equity and debt raised by the project company.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

The most striking element of the deal is the establishment of a 13‑nation authority in Nigeria, a structure that could reshape regional energy governance. By placing coordination under a single body, the pipeline bypasses the fragmented oversight that has hampered many cross‑border infrastructure projects in West Africa.

The timing is significant: after a decade of planning, the project has cleared feasibility and FEED stages, yet it still lacks firm financing. Benkhadra's remarks about "strong interest" and the need for a mix of equity and debt highlight the gap between political will and private capital, a recurring challenge for large‑scale African energy schemes.

If the pipeline materialises, electricity‑intensive industries in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal could benefit from cheaper gas, while Moroccan exporters may gain a reliable conduit to European markets. However, the long‑term payoff hinges on securing funding and maintaining cohesion among the 13 governments, a task that will directly affect investors and consumers across the region.

The initiative mirrors a broader trend of seeking continental integration through mega‑infrastructure, echoing past attempts to link West African economies. Its success or failure will likely influence future trans‑African projects and the perception of Africa's capacity to deliver complex, capital‑intensive ventures.

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