Nigeria, Morocco Advance $26bn Gas Pipeline Project as NNPC Seeks Foreign Investors

According to The Sun Nigeria news on November 14, 2026, Nigeria and Morocco are advancing plans to establish the institutional structures required for the development of the proposed Nigeria, Morocco gas pipeline, a major energy project estimated to cost between $25 billion and $26 billion.

The Nigerian government is expected to establish a governance authority in Abuja, while Morocco plans to set up a project company in Casablanca to coordinate the implementation of the ambitious pipeline project.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is also intensifying efforts to attract international investors to address funding challenges and move the project towards a final investment decision.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed that the company was holding discussions with several potential investors, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), to secure the financial support required for the project.

However, ADNOC’s inclusion in the discussions does not mean that the company has formally committed to investing in the pipeline. The project is being jointly developed by Nigeria and Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) and is expected to stretch approximately 6,800 to 6,900 kilometres across 13 African countries.

Upon completion, the pipeline is designed to transport about 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually, supplying participating African countries while providing access to European markets through Morocco’s connection to the Maghreb Europe pipeline linking the country with Spain.

To reduce financial pressure and demonstrate the project’s commercial viability, NNPC is considering a phased development strategy that would utilize parts of the existing West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).

The existing infrastructure already connects Nigeria with Benin, Togo and Ghana, with plans to extend the network towards Sierra Leone before developing other sections of the proposed corridor.

Meanwhile, ADNOC’s potential involvement is attracting attention because of its growing international investments in the global gas industry.

In November 2024, the Emirati company established XRG, an international investment platform focused on natural gas, chemicals and low carbon energy. Through XRG, ADNOC has expanded its presence in international gas markets, including Mozambique, where it acquired a 10 per cent interest in the Area 4 concession in March 2025.

The company also announced an additional 7.6 per cent stake in Trains 4 and 5 of the Rio Grande LNG project in Texas, United States, in January 2026. These investments demonstrate its growing participation in different segments of the international gas industry, including exploration, production and liquefied natural gas marketing.

On the project’s implementation, several preparatory activities have reportedly been completed, including front end engineering design studies and route surveys, while environmental and social assessments are at advanced stages.

Another significant development was the signing of an intergovernmental agreement by member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in July 2026. The agreement is expected to strengthen the institutional framework for the multinational project.

Despite the progress recorded, securing adequate financing and obtaining firm investment commitments remain major challenges. The proposed pipeline is expected to strengthen regional energy cooperation, improve access to natural gas, promote economic development and expand Africa’s capacity to supply international energy markets.

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