Nigeria and Morocco are targeting the fourth quarter of 2026 to sign a major intergovernmental agreement aimed at advancing the long-delayed Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, a strategic energy initiative expected to strengthen regional integration and boost gas exports to Europe.
According to a statement from Nigeria’s foreign ministry, the agreement is expected to be signed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI after the completion of preliminary technical studies on the pipeline project, also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
The latest development emerged following a telephone conversation held last Friday between Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.
The ambitious project, estimated to cost about US$25 billion, was first agreed upon nearly a decade ago as part of broader efforts to deepen energy cooperation between West and North Africa. The proposed pipeline is expected to run approximately 6,900 kilometres along a hybrid offshore and onshore route stretching across several West African countries before reaching Morocco and connecting onward to Europe.
Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines has indicated that the pipeline will have a maximum annual transport capacity of about 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas. Around half of that volume, approximately 15 billion cubic metres, is expected to support Morocco’s domestic energy needs and exports to European markets.
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The project is seen as a strategic effort to monetise Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves while helping African countries improve energy access and industrial development. Nigeria holds one of the largest proven natural gas reserves in Africa, but the country has long struggled to fully utilise the resource because of infrastructure gaps, underinvestment and security challenges affecting parts of the energy sector.
For Morocco, the pipeline forms part of its broader strategy to strengthen energy security and position itself as a key energy corridor linking Africa and Europe. Morocco has increasingly pursued investments in renewable energy, gas infrastructure and regional connectivity projects in recent years.
The pipeline is also expected to pass through several countries along the Atlantic coast of West Africa, potentially supplying gas to participating nations and supporting electricity generation, industrialisation and regional trade integration.
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Last month, Amina Benkhadra, head of Morocco’s hydrocarbons and mining agency, told Reuters that an intergovernmental agreement on the project could be signed this year as both countries accelerate diplomatic and technical engagements.
Analysts say the project could help diversify Europe’s gas supply sources at a time when many countries are seeking alternatives to traditional suppliers amid shifting global energy dynamics and geopolitical tensions.
In addition to discussions on the pipeline, the two foreign ministers explored opportunities for broader economic cooperation between both countries, particularly in fertiliser production and distribution. Officials from both sides highlighted the importance of fertiliser collaboration in supporting food security efforts across the African continent, especially as rising input costs and climate-related pressures continue to affect agricultural production.
The ministers also underscored the need to revive the Nigeria-Morocco Business Council to promote stronger commercial relations, trade and investment flows between the two countries. They pointed to opportunities created under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework, which aims to boost intra-African trade and regional economic integration.
Nigeria and Morocco already maintain a double taxation treaty, which both sides believe can further encourage private sector investment and cross-border business activity.
The planned gas pipeline remains one of Africa’s most ambitious energy infrastructure projects and is expected to play a significant role in strengthening regional cooperation, expanding energy access and enhancing trade ties between Africa and Europe once completed.
