ECOWAS Approves $27bn Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, Construction Set for 2028

West African leaders have approved the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP), a major energy project expected to link Nigeria’s vast gas reserves with markets across Africa and Europe.

The agreement was signed during the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where regional leaders endorsed the pipeline project as part of efforts to strengthen energy cooperation and economic integration across the continent.

The proposed pipeline, estimated to stretch about 6,000 kilometres, will run along Africa’s Atlantic coastline, passing through 13 countries before reaching Morocco, where it will connect with the existing Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline for possible onward supply to European markets.

ECOWAS Chairman and Sierra Leone President, Julius Maada Bio, confirmed the agreement during the summit, describing the project as a major step towards improving energy access and cooperation among African nations.

“We have already signed the West Africa-Morocco gas pipeline. Don’t be surprised when the gas comes your way,” Bio said.

The project is being developed through collaboration between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Morocco’s state-owned hydrocarbons agency, the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM).

According to both organisations, the pipeline is designed to connect West Africa’s gas resources with regional and international markets while supporting energy security, industrial development and economic growth.

The partners said the project would help create a new development corridor linking West Africa, the Sahel region, Morocco and Europe, while promoting greater integration of African energy markets.

Under the next phase of development, a dedicated project company will be established in Casablanca, Morocco, while a governing authority will be headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria. These structures will oversee project implementation before investors are invited and a final investment decision is reached.

Construction of the pipeline is expected to begin in 2028, with the first gas deliveries projected for 2031.

The ambitious project, first proposed during Moroccan King Mohammed VI’s visit to Nigeria in 2016, is estimated to cost about $27 billion.

Its renewed momentum comes amid shifting energy dynamics in North Africa, particularly following Algeria’s 2022 decision to halt gas supplies to Spain through Morocco after diplomatic relations between Algiers and Rabat deteriorated.

For Nigeria, the pipeline represents a potential opportunity to expand its gas export capacity, strengthen its position in the global energy market and unlock new economic opportunities across the continent.

If completed, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline would become one of Africa’s largest energy infrastructure projects and a significant symbol of regional cooperation.