Keypoints:
- $25bn Nigeria–Morocco pipeline awaits ECOWAS leaders’ sign-off
- Project to connect 16 African countries via gas corridor
- Morocco champions energy diplomacy at Luanda summit
THE ambitious Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline is poised to move into its implementation phase, as ECOWAS heads of state prepare to give their final approval to the $25bn transcontinental project designed to transform energy access across West Africa.
ECOWAS leaders set for decisive green light
The 6,900-kilometre pipeline has already cleared several institutional hurdles, with the intergovernmental agreement endorsed by regional energy ministers and approved by ECOWAS. Now, only the formal signature by ECOWAS heads of state remains before construction can commence.
‘The official signature by the heads of state will constitute the final institutional milestone before implementation begins,’ said Amina Benkhadra, Director General of Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM). She made the remarks at the 17th US–Africa Business Summit held in Luanda, Angola.
A regional lifeline for energy and development
Jointly developed by ONHYM and Nigeria’s National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the project is one of the most significant energy corridors ever planned in Africa. It will connect 13 coastal countries and 3 landlocked nations, boosting access to natural gas, supporting industrialisation, and establishing a regional electricity market.
Benkhadra described it as a phased, adaptive project tailored to regional needs. Also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, the initiative is central to both countries’ energy strategies.
Morocco pushes for broader energy vision
The pipeline is a top priority for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who has committed to seeing the $25bn investment realised. On June 23, Vice President Kashim Shettima met with Switzerland’s Vitol Group, the world’s largest independent energy trader, to discuss financing the venture.
Benkhadra stressed Morocco’s strategic role as a gateway between Africa, Europe and the Americas, noting that it remains the only African nation with a free trade agreement with the US. ‘Access to natural gas, a clean and available resource, must be expanded across the continent to support its development,’ she told delegates during a panel on unlocking Africa’s gas potential.
Morocco takes centre stage in Luanda
Leading the Moroccan delegation was Karim Zidane, Minister Delegate for Investment, alongside senior officials from ONHYM, AMDIE, ONCF, CGEM, MEDZ, MARSA Maroc and several major Moroccan banks.
Bilateral meetings with Angolan and Egyptian ministers focused on deepening partnerships across sectors, including agriculture, trade, and public investment.
The summit’s theme, Pathways to Prosperity: A Shared Vision for US–Africa Partnership, drew over 1,500 participants, including heads of state and business leaders, cementing its place as a key platform for economic dialogue.
Sahara issue overshadows participation
In a significant diplomatic move, both the US and Angola barred the Polisario Front’s self-declared ‘SADR’ from attending the summit—marking another setback for Algeria’s campaign on Western Sahara. Over 90 percent of African nations now back Morocco’s position, strengthening Rabat’s hand in continental diplomacy.
ONHYM also held talks with Angola’s sovereign wealth fund and other regional players, reinforcing its role in shaping Africa’s energy future.
