On December 16, 2024, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) approved the intergovernmental agreement for the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, now officially named the “Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline” (AAGP). The approval marks a significant milestone for the region’s energy future, with the pipeline set to enhance energy security and drive industrial growth across West Africa and beyond.
The project will connect 13 Atlantic coast countries, including Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal, along with three non-coastal nations like Mali and Burkina Faso, forming a vital energy corridor spanning over 5,600 km. The pipeline will transport Nigerian gas to Morocco, providing energy to the countries along the route and helping to reduce their reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Beyond energy, the AAGP aims to attract significant investments, create jobs, and foster infrastructure development. It will facilitate rural electrification, boost industrialization, and improve competitiveness within the participating countries. The ECOWAS conference also urged development partners and the private sector to play a key role in financing the project, which is estimated to cost several billion dollars.
With strong backing from institutions like the African Development Bank and the World Bank, and the involvement of major private investors, the AAGP is poised to serve as a catalyst for broader regional cooperation, not only in energy but also in transport, telecommunications, and agriculture. The pipeline represents a powerful vision of economic integration and shared prosperity across Africa.