Nigeria has renewed its commitment to the gas pipeline project with Morocco and is removing legal obstacles.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his country’s dedication to the gas pipeline project linking Nigeria and Morocco, deeming it one of the national priority projects in his country’s energy strategy. The president highlighted the expected economic and social benefits from this massive regional project, particularly the creation of thousands of jobs, stimulation of economic development, and enhancement of industrial integration in West Africa.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Abuja, conveyed the president’s remarks during his participation in the executive session of the African Parliamentary Union held in Casablanca from May 21 to 23. The senator emphasized that the project, estimated to cost around $25 billion, is among President Tinubu’s top priorities, who has instructed a review of several stalled major energy projects, signaling a clear political will to accelerate the implementation of the pipeline connecting the two countries.
The senator explained that the pipeline, extending 5,660 kilometers, will transport 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually through 13 African countries, reaching Morocco and then heading to Europe. He considered this strategic project as reinforcing Morocco’s role as a regional hub in the energy market and granting it a prominent position in the global energy security system. Additionally, it presents an opportunity to build a strong energy partnership between Rabat and Abuja.
The senator also confirmed that the Nigerian Parliament is supporting the project with legal reforms aimed at removing potential legislative obstacles. He highlighted a clear institutional backing at the highest level to turn the project into reality. According to the Nigerian newspaper Punch, the project is still in the feasibility studies and engineering planning phase, with significant progress achieved in identifying potential routes for the pipeline and technical and financial partners.
The newspaper anticipated that a final investment decision would be made later, asserting that President Tinubu’s recent statements reflect a strong desire to overcome challenges and advance into more advanced stages of implementation. This comes at a time when enthusiasm for alternative projects, such as the gas pipeline with Algeria, is waning due to slow progress, increasing the attractiveness of the Moroccan option as a more stable and profitable solution.
