By Stella Odueme
Heads of State of ECOWAS member countries have signed the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), a major milestone that moves the regional energy project closer to implementation.
The agreement was signed during the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, providing the legal and institutional framework for the nearly 6,900-kilometre pipeline, which will transport natural gas from Nigeria through 13 Atlantic coastal countries to Morocco, with links to landlocked Sahel nations and Europe.
Jointly developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), the project according to a statement on Monday, is expected to strengthen energy security, drive industrialisation, expand electricity access and deepen economic integration across the region.
The pipeline, with a planned annual capacity of 30 billion cubic metres of gas, has recorded significant progress, including the completion of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, environmental and social impact assessments, and the development of key legal and commercial frameworks.
NNPC Ltd. Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the signing as a defining step that moves the project from planning to execution, while ONHYM Director General, Mrs. Amina Benkhadra, said it demonstrates the shared commitment of Nigeria and Morocco to advancing regional development.
The next phase will involve establishing the Pipeline Higher Authority in Abuja and the AAGP Project Company in Casablanca to coordinate implementation and prepare for the Final Investment Decision (FID). Both NNPC Ltd. and ONHYM reaffirmed their commitment to delivering the project in line with international standards and best practices.
