Nigeria and Morocco are poised to sign a definitive intergovernmental agreement in the fourth quarter of 2026 to advance a massive Atlantic coast gas pipeline project, according to Nigeria’s foreign ministry.

The upcoming agreement, which will be signed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Moroccan King Mohammed VI, follows the completion of preliminary technical studies on the mega-project, officially known as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline or the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline.

The milestone was finalized during a telephone call between Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. 

The project, which was first agreed upon a decade ago, is designed to run 6,900 kilometers along a hybrid offshore-onshore route.

Once operational, the $25 billion pipeline will feature a maximum capacity of 30 billion cubic meters annually. 

According to Amina Benkhadra, head of Morocco’s hydrocarbons and mining agency (ONHYM), the infrastructure will allocate 15 billion cubic meters to supply Morocco’s domestic market while simultaneously supporting significant energy exports directly to Europe.

The pipeline is viewed as a geopolitical game-changer, aimed at linking resource-rich West Africa to European energy markets while fostering regional economic integration. 

Beyond the primary focus on energy infrastructure, the two nations are leveraging the pipeline pact to expand broader economic ties.

During their bilateral talks, Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Bourita explored joint opportunities in fertilizer production and distribution, noting its critical role in enhancing food security across the African continent.

To ensure the smooth execution of these multi-billion-dollar initiatives, both ministers stressed the immediate need to re-establish the Nigeria-Morocco Business Council. 

Officials stated that the revived council will actively promote bilateral trade and investment, utilizing the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area alongside an existing double taxation treaty between the two African powers.