The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, officially known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, reached a decisive milestone during a meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026. The meeting was attended by ministers from 12 West African countries, as well as Morocco and Nigeria, to discuss the project's progress and next steps.
The pipeline, initially conceived in 2016 under the leadership of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, aims to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco and along the West African coast. The project is expected to enhance energy security and economic integration in the region.
According to a statement from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the meeting in Freetown focused on the finalization of the project's feasibility study and the establishment of a legal and regulatory framework. The pipeline is estimated to cost $25 billion and will span approximately 5,600 kilometers when completed.
The project is supported by the African Development Bank and the World Bank, among other international partners. It is expected to provide a reliable source of energy to millions of people in West Africa and contribute to the reduction of gas flaring in Nigeria.
