Africa is stepping into a defining era where bold infrastructure projects are shaping the continent’s economic future. At the heart of this transformation is the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP), a $25 billion mega-project stretching across 13 countries and connecting West Africa to North Africa, and eventually Europe.
More than a gas conduit, the NMGP is emerging as a backbone for African integration, fuelling industries, boosting regional trade, and advancing the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
From Blueprint to Reality
For years, the pipeline was seen as a grand vision. But today, it is moving firmly into execution:
- In December 2024, West African heads of state approved an Intergovernmental Agreement, defining rights and responsibilities across the 13 transit countries, laying the legal groundwork for cooperation.
- In mid-2025, high-level technical and steering committee meetings in Rabat confirmed that the project is advancing toward construction.
- The first phase has already been launched, with a 600-kilometer section between Nador and Dakhla in Morocco, valued at about $6 billion. This tangible milestone marks a shift from planning to building.
- Morocco has also issued a call for interest in building a new LNG terminal near Nador, designed to integrate the NMGP into broader energy networks and link it with Spain and Europe.
The UAE has agreed to contribute to the funding of this $25 billion project to ship Nigerian gas to Europe. Image courtesy: The North Africa Post
The full pipeline is expected to span nearly 6,800 kilometers, delivering around 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually, making it one of the longest and most strategic pipelines in the world.
Why This Pipeline Matters for Africa
1. Fueling Industrial Growth
Reliable and affordable energy is the backbone of manufacturing, agro-processing, and digital industries. With the NMGP, African countries could lower production costs, stimulate local industries, and reduce dependence on imported fuels.
2. Securing Africa’s Food Future
Nigeria (rich in natural gas) and Morocco (a phosphate giant) are already leaders in fertilizer production. The pipeline strengthens this partnership, enabling fertilizer access across Africa and supporting food security at scale.
3. Strengthening AfCFTA
AfCFTA envisions a $3.4 trillion integrated African market. But trade cannot thrive without infrastructure. The NMGP will enable intra-African energy trade, reduce regional power gaps, and lay the groundwork for more cross-border industrial corridors.
4. A New Geopolitical Leverage
Linking Nigeria in West Africa with Morocco as a gateway to Europe, the pipeline gives Africa geostrategic weight. It diversifies export routes, reduces vulnerability to global energy shocks, and strengthens Africa’s voice in international negotiations.
5. A Model for Pan-African Projects
The NMGP sets a precedent: a complex, multi-country project that blends energy, trade, and diplomacy. Its success could inspire similar mega-projects in transport, logistics, and digital connectivity.
What the Future Holds
- By 2035, the NMGP could anchor an African fertilizer and industrial hub, supplying affordable inputs to farmers and industries from Lagos to Dakar to Casablanca.
- AfCFTA’s promise of deeper integration will be tested, and accelerated by infrastructure projects like NMGP, which convert policy ambition into practical connection.
- Africa may emerge as a strategic Atlantic energy corridor, balancing gas exports to Europe with supplying its own growing markets.
- Morocco’s LNG terminal and Nigeria’s gas reserves will jointly reposition the continent as an energy and trade powerhouse.
The Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline is no longer just a dream on paper; it has entered the building phase. With billions already committed, ECOWAS coordination secured, and Morocco positioning itself as a continental energy hub, the project symbolizes Africa’s shift from vision to implementation and integration.
If completed as planned, the NMGP will not only power industries and households but also energize AfCFTA’s promise of a unified African market. It could well be remembered as the project that turned Africa’s 21st-century ambition into lasting transformation.
