Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Tops President Tinubu's Priorities
Doha – Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has placed the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline at the forefront of his administration's priority projects. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim announced this commitment during the executive session of the African Parliament Union in Casablanca on Wednesday.
The massive infrastructure project aims to deliver up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually across 5,660 kilometres, supplying energy to approximately 400 million people in 13 African countries, with Nigeria as the central gas provider. Ibrahim stated that President Tinubu is reviewing all previously abandoned projects to ensure their swift completion.
'This project is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost industrial and digital development, and contribute to a more sustainable energy future for the participating countries,' Ibrahim explained, noting important advantages for Morocco in supplying European countries with gas.
Morocco's Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali confirmed in mid-May that feasibility and preliminary engineering studies have been completed and the optimal route has been determined.
'A special-purpose company is currently being established between Morocco and Nigeria to make the final investment decision by the end of the current year,' Benali told the Upper House, confirming that the intergovernmental agreement among member states has been approved along with the host country agreement.
Morocco launched a tender last April to develop national natural gas infrastructure that will connect Nador port to Kenitra and Mohammedia, extending to Dakhla to link with the Africa-Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
Major financiers have joined the initiative, with the UAE agreeing to contribute funding alongside the European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and OPEC Fund. China's Jingye Steel Group has been awarded a contract to supply pipes for the construction.
The United States has expressed interest in investing in the initiative, as revealed by Nigeria's Finance Minister Wale Edun during bilateral engagements at the 2025 Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Washington. The US showed interest in Nigeria's natural gas sector, particularly given the country's vast gas reserves.
The project dates back to King Mohammed VI's state visit to Nigeria in December 2016. The Final Investment Decision was initially planned for 2023 but has been postponed to 2025, reflecting the project's complexity and scale.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio is actively working to provide legislative support for Tinubu's vision, with this backing aiming to eliminate any complexities that may obstruct successful implementation.
Morocco is set to be home to 1,672 kilometers of the pipeline. The route will pass through Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.
Ibrahim urged Morocco to consider revising its visa policy for Nigerian visitors, given the investment opportunities both countries will generate. Tags: Morocco-Nigerian pipeline project
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