Morocco and Nigeria are moving closer to a landmark energy partnership, with King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expected to sign a definitive intergovernmental agreement in late 2026 to advance the ambitious African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project.
The announcement, made by Nigeria’s foreign ministry, marks a new stage in one of Africa’s largest strategic infrastructure initiatives, a project designed not only to transport natural gas across West Africa but also to reshape economic and geopolitical relations between the continent and Europe.
The future agreement follows the completion of preliminary technical studies for the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, a mega-project first launched nearly a decade ago under the joint vision of Rabat and Abuja.
Stretching approximately 6,900 kilometers along a hybrid offshore and onshore route, the pipeline is expected to connect Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to multiple West African countries before reaching Morocco and eventually European markets.
With an estimated investment of around $25 billion and an annual transport capacity of 30 billion cubic meters, the project has become one of the flagship pillars of South-South cooperation on the African continent.
According to Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), headed by Amina Benkhadra, part of the gas supply will be directed toward supporting Morocco’s domestic energy needs, while substantial volumes will also be exported to Europe.
The latest breakthrough was confirmed following a telephone conversation between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Nigerian counterpart Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during which both sides reviewed the progress achieved on the project and discussed broader avenues for bilateral cooperation.
Beyond energy, Rabat and Abuja are also seeking to deepen economic coordination in sectors considered strategic for Africa’s future, particularly fertilizer production and distribution, amid growing concerns over food security across the continent.
The two ministers additionally emphasized the importance of reactivating the Nigeria-Morocco Business Council to accelerate investment flows and facilitate private-sector partnerships between the two countries.
Officials believe the council could help maximize opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while also benefiting from existing agreements aimed at avoiding double taxation between Morocco and Nigeria.
The pipeline project is increasingly viewed as a transformative geopolitical corridor that could reinforce Morocco’s role as a gateway between Africa and Europe, while strengthening Nigeria’s position as one of the continent’s leading energy powers.
