ECOWAS Ministers Convene in Abuja to Advance Regional Energy Security

The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, joined ECOWAS ministers responsible for energy and hydrocarbons in Abuja today, emphasizing the collective mission to enhance energy security, economic integration, and sustainable development across Africa. The meeting, co-hosted by Hon. Ekpo and Honourable Minister of Power, Hon. Adebayo Adelabu, focused on collaborative frameworks to drive the region’s energy future.

In his opening address, Hon. Ekpo commended ECOWAS for its leadership in organizing the session and for setting a forward-looking agenda. He expressed appreciation to fellow ministers for their dedication to advancing regional hydrocarbon development and underscored the critical nature of today’s discussions, which centered on strategic institutional documents crucial to regional cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.

Among the agenda items were two key documents: the Draft Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and Host Government Agreement (HGA) for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP). These documents lay the groundwork for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project—a transformative initiative born from the merger of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP). This merger, approved at the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government meeting in July 2023, aims to foster an interconnected and economically robust pipeline network across West Africa and into North Africa and Europe.

Hon. Ekpo explained that the Intergovernmental Agreement would serve as the framework for cooperation among the participating states, while the Host Government Agreement ensures a stable investment environment. He highlighted the potential of the AAGP to drive economic growth, create jobs, and secure energy access throughout the region.

“By linking natural gas reserves from Nigeria to Morocco, this initiative opens doors to new markets, fostering regional industrialization and economic empowerment for communities along the pipeline route,” Hon. Ekpo stated.

The Minister also paid tribute to the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), a pioneering 678-kilometer pipeline that has been supplying gas from Nigeria to Benin, Togo, and Ghana. He acknowledged the challenges the WAGP has faced but credited its regulatory body, the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), for its role in ensuring successful operation. Reflecting on WAGP’s twenty-year legacy, Hon. Ekpo noted the importance of leveraging WAGPA’s experience as the AAGP evolves.

In closing, Hon. Ekpo stressed the opportunity to achieve a unified vision for energy cooperation across the region. He commended the efforts of the ministers and experts who have driven the process forward and anticipated that, following their discussions, the draft agreements would be presented to ECOWAS Heads of Government at their upcoming December 2024 meeting.

“We are at a pivotal moment,” Hon. Ekpo said. “These agreements hold the potential to reshape our energy landscape, strengthen economies, and uplift communities. Together, we are committed to a future of energy security, sustainable infrastructure, and prosperity for all of Africa.”

The meeting marks a significant step in ECOWAS’s ongoing efforts to build a connected and resilient energy sector across West Africa.