Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: Intergovernmental Agreement to be Signed in 2026
The year 2026 marks a decisive turning point for the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline. The signing of the intergovernmental agreement (IGA), expected this year, will formalize nearly ten years of negotiations and pave the way for the construction of one of Africa’s largest energy infrastructures. Discover the progress of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, its route, financing, and detailed map.
💡 Key Point – Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline 2026:
📍 IGA Signing: expected in 2026
📍 Length: 6,900 km
📍 Countries crossed: 13 West African nations
📍 Capacity: 30 billion m³/year
📍 First gas: expected by 2031
🔵 Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: Latest Updates
The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), is a mega-project estimated at $25 billion. It will span 6,900 kilometers along a hybrid route combining offshore and onshore segments, following the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Unlike the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline or the Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline, this project favors the coastal route, which is more stable and accessible.
📍 Intergovernmental Agreement to be Signed in 2026
On April 13, 2026, the Director General of Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), Amina Benkhadra, confirmed that the intergovernmental agreement for the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline would be signed during 2026. The IGA, whose terms were adopted by ECOWAS in December 2024, sets out the rights and obligations of all 13 countries crossed. Many are asking where the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline stands: progress is now very real after years of studies.
📌 Note: The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is often compared to the Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline (Trans-Saharan). Unlike the latter, which crosses desert and high-security-risk areas, the coastal route of the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline is considered more technically and politically feasible.
🗺️ Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: Route and Map
The route of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline crosses 13 countries: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco. The map of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline shows a continuous Atlantic corridor, serving 400 million people. The pipeline avoids internal conflict zones, unlike the competing Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline project which would cross Niger and the Sahara.
📊 Technical Specifications of the Gas Pipeline
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline length | 6,900 km |
| Maximum capacity | 30 billion m³/year |
| Of which for Europe | 15 billion m³/year |
| Pipeline cost | $25 billion USD |
| Countries crossed | 13 countries |
| Population served | 400 million |
| First gas expected | 2031 |
| Full completion | 2036-2040 |
💰 Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Financing
Financing for the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline remains the last hurdle. The initial $25 billion budget could be optimized to $20 billion. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) have already expressed interest. Some wonder: is the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline impossible? Experts believe the project is technically feasible, unlike the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline which continues to face delays.
📅 Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: Progress and Timeline
Progress on the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is structured in phases. Phase 1 connects Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal for first delivery in 2031. Phase 2 connects Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Phase 3 connects Ghana to Nigeria’s gas fields around 2036. Full completion is not expected until 2036-2040. The countries involved are all ECOWAS members.
📅 Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Timeline:
🔹 2026: IGA signing
🔹 2031: First gas (northern segments)
🔹 2036-2040: Full completion
🔗 Comparison: Nigeria-Morocco vs Nigeria-Algeria Gas Pipeline
The Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline (Trans-Saharan) is the main competitor. At 4,128 km long, it would cross Niger and the Sahara, areas with high security risks. The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline favors a more stable coastal route. The debate between the Nigeria-Morocco and Nigeria-Algeria pipelines currently favors the Moroccan project, supported by more advanced feasibility studies and broader regional political consensus.
