On July 19, 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) collectively signed the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project. This milestone was confirmed by multiple regional news outlets and official statements.
The pipeline, first proposed in 2016, aims to transport natural gas from Nigeria through 13 West African countries to Morocco and onward to Europe. The IGA signing formalizes the legal framework for the project's development, operation, and transit rights across member states.
According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) of Morocco, the pipeline is expected to span approximately 5,600 kilometers, making it one of the longest offshore and onshore gas pipelines in the world. The project is estimated to cost around $25 billion, though final financing details are still under negotiation.
The signing was hailed by ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray as a 'historic step' toward energy integration and economic development in West Africa. The pipeline is projected to provide gas to over 300 million people in the region and help reduce gas flaring in Nigeria.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about the project's impact on coastal ecosystems and the potential for stranded assets as the world transitions to renewable energy. However, proponents argue it will provide a cleaner alternative to biomass and diesel for power generation in the region.
