On the Atlantic coast of Africa, a long-talked-about energy plan is finally moving towards reality. Nigeria and Morocco are preparing to sign a major agreement in late 2026 that would push ahead one of the continent’s most ambitious infrastructure projects – a gas pipeline stretching from West Africa to Europe.
The deal is expected to be signed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and King Mohammed VI. It follows the completion of technical studies for the $25 billion project, confirmed after discussions between Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.
The project, known as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline or African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, would run for around 6,900 kilometres. It would connect Nigeria to 13 countries along the West African coast before reaching Morocco, and then link into existing infrastructure that can send gas into Spain and wider Europe.
In simple terms, it is designed to move natural gas from where it is produced in West Africa to where demand is growing, especially in Europe.
The pipeline is expected to carry up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas a year once fully operational. Around half of that volume would go through Morocco, with the rest supporting countries along the route and export markets.
The plan will not be built all at once. Early sections could start working around 2031, while the full system is not expected to be complete until 2046. Most of the technical groundwork has already been done.
Moroccan energy official Amina Benkhadra said the idea has been in discussion for about a decade and is now moving from planning into execution.
The project could eventually help supply energy to around 400 million people across West Africa, including landlocked countries that currently struggle with access to reliable energy. It is also being framed as part of Europe’s effort to diversify its gas supplies away from Russia, offering a new long-term route from Africa.
Beyond energy, Nigeria and Morocco are also looking at expanding cooperation on fertiliser production, using gas as a key ingredient to support farming and food security. They are also pushing to revive a joint business council to encourage more trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The project would be run through a partnership between Nigeria’s NNPC Limited and Morocco’s ONHYM, with funding expected from a mix of public institutions and development lenders such as the African Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
