Nigeria has welcomed the unanimous endorsement of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project by member-states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), describing the signing of the intergovernmental agreement as a major step towards regional energy security, economic integration, and industrialisation.
The endorsement followed the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government during the 69th Ordinary Session in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on Sunday.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who was part of the delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, described the agreement as a defining milestone. Mr Ekpo noted that the project—also known as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline—has transitioned from conception to implementation, reflecting West African leaders’ commitment to one of the continent’s most strategic energy infrastructure initiatives.
“For Nigeria, this is particularly important because we hold approximately 215.19 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, the largest in Africa. We see gas as a central pillar of our economic transformation, industrialisation, and energy security strategy,” Mr Ekpo said.
