Nigeria has officially requested Ghana’s support for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project, also known as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline. This project aims to connect Nigerian gas resources to West African markets, with a potential extension to Europe.

Regional Issues and Financial Disputes

The infrastructure, estimated to cost USD 25 billion, would cross thirteen African countries, creating a major energy corridor along the continent’s Atlantic coast. Nigeria’s call comes amid an ongoing financial dispute with Ghana. Accra owes Nigeria approximately USD 75 million for gas deliveries via the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), which has connected Nigeria to Benin, Togo, and Ghana over a 678-kilometer span since 2010. Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources Ekpo Ekperipe emphasized during a meeting in Accra the need for Ghana to honor its commitments to preserve regional energy stability.

Last February, Ghana announced its intention to partially settle this USD 37.5 million debt, but payment has not yet been confirmed by the Nigerian supplier, N-Gas Limited.

Strategic Dimension and Regional Cooperation

Beyond the bilateral dispute, Nigeria is seeking to rally all regional states around this strategic project. The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is presented as complementary to the WAGP and aims to strengthen energy security and regional economic integration.

Several African heads of state recently expressed their support for this initiative during regional consultations. Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to continue supplying gas under existing agreements, while calling on its partners to remove financial obstacles to secure West Africa’s energy future. Minister Ekperipe emphasized the importance of working together to ensure regional energy security and advance key growth-enhancing projects.