LUNGI — West African leaders have endorsed the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, a major transcontinental energy project aimed at boosting regional power supply and strengthening economic integration.
The backing was announced at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, where leaders highlighted energy security as critical to the region’s development.
In the final communiqué issued after the summit, the Authority welcomed the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement on the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), also known as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
“The Authority welcomed the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement relating to the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline,” the communiqué stated.
Stretching approximately 6,900 kilometres, the pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from Nigeria along the West African coast to Morocco and onward to Europe.
The project, estimated at $25 billion, is expected to deliver up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually, significantly improving energy availability across participating countries.
ECOWAS leaders said the pipeline would enhance regional energy security, expand access to electricity and support industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
They also commended the collaboration between ECOWAS Member States and the Kingdom of Morocco, noting that the partnership is key to advancing the project.
According to the communiqué, the pipeline will strengthen regional connectivity, attract investment and contribute to the goals of ECOWAS Vision 2050.
The Authority further directed the ECOWAS Commission to prioritise strategic, investment-ready infrastructure projects capable of attracting funding from development finance institutions and private investors.
Analysts say the successful implementation of the pipeline could reduce energy deficits, lower production costs and position West Africa as a major player in global energy markets.
Leaders stressed that expanding energy infrastructure remains essential to unlocking economic potential and improving living standards across the region.
