Nigeria and Morocco are targeting the 4th quarter of 2026 to formalize a key agreement on the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a major energy project for the continent.
Nigeria and Morocco have set the fourth quarter of 2026 as the deadline for signing the intergovernmental agreement to advance the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project, according to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This commitment, championed at the highest level by President Bola Tinubu and King Mohammed VI, comes after the completion of the initial technical studies for this crucial project for the continent’s energy integration.
This timeline was confirmed following a telephone conversation between Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
The two officials reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the implementation of this gas corridor, described as “a major gas pipeline project on the Atlantic coast,” intended to connect several West African economies to a high-capacity energy hub.
The project, estimated at $25 billion (approximately €23 billion), would stretch for nearly 6,900km, according to data released by the authorities. Its maximum capacity would reach 30 billion cubic meters per year, with 15 billion destined for the Moroccan market, while the remainder would be exported, primarily to Europe.
The Director General of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), Amina Benkhadra, had already indicated that “the intergovernmental agreement on the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline would be signed this year,” signaling the project’s entry into a decisive diplomatic phase. By its scale, the gas pipeline aims to transform energy flows in West Africa by connecting coastal countries to an infrastructure capable of sustainably structuring gas trade.
This corridor is part of a broader strategy to diversify supply routes and promote African gas resources on international markets.
Beyond energy, discussions between Rabat and Abuja also focused on strengthening agricultural cooperation, particularly in the production and distribution of fertilizers. Both sides emphasized the strategic importance of this sector for the continent’s food security, calling for joint initiatives to support agricultural value chains.
Following these discussions, the two countries expressed their intention to relaunch the Nigeria-Morocco Business Council to stimulate investment and trade. This initiative would leverage the mechanisms of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the existing double taxation avoidance agreement, with the aim of strengthening regional economic integration.
All of these initiatives reflect an integrated approach to the bilateral partnership, where energy infrastructure is linked to industrial, agricultural, and commercial issues, with a view to sustainably anchoring trade along Africa’s Atlantic coast.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/gik/APA