The federal government, alongside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Morocco, and Mauritania, have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the $26 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project.
The announcement was made at the ECOWAS Inter-Ministerial Meeting on the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, where officials disclosed that they are partnering with additional stakeholders to propel the initiative forward.
The meeting, held in Abuja on Monday, saw the attendance of ECOWAS Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Energy, along with representatives from Morocco and Mauritania.
The project, designed to connect at least 13 nations, aims to drive economic growth across the region.
In his address, Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), highlighted the significance of the meeting’s decisions, which he stated would shape the future of the African Atlantic gas project.
Kyari, represented by NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Gas Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, stressed the need for the project to positively impact both the regional economy and the lives of local communities.
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the project will be transformative of the energy landscape of the continent.
“We stand at a critical juncture where these draft agreements hold the power to reshape our energy landscape, strengthen our economies, and uplift our people,” Ekpo stated.
He emphasized that the agreements should demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing hydrocarbon and energy trade across ECOWAS nations, enhancing access to natural gas in West Africa, and expanding Africa’s presence in the global gas market.
In her remarks, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Laila Benali, conveyed optimism about the project’s ability to unlock new markets and generate employment opportunities.
