The planned accord, expected to be signed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Mohammed VI, follows the completion of preliminary technical studies for the project, also known as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline.

Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the development was discussed during a telephone conversation last Friday between Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

The pipeline project, first agreed roughly a decade ago, is designed to span about 6,900 kilometers along a hybrid offshore and onshore route linking Nigeria to Morocco through several West African countries.

Amina Benkhadra, head of Morocco’s state hydrocarbons and mining agency ONHYM, told Reuters last month that the project would have a maximum annual capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of gas, including around 15 billion cubic meters intended for Morocco’s domestic market and onward exports to Europe.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts by African producers to strengthen regional energy integration and capitalize on European demand for alternative gas supplies following disruptions to global energy markets in recent years.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest natural gas producer, has long sought to expand export infrastructure beyond existing liquefied natural gas facilities, while Morocco has positioned itself as a strategic energy transit hub between Africa and Europe.

The two governments also discussed expanding cooperation in fertilizer production and distribution, highlighting the sector’s role in strengthening food security across Africa, according to the Nigerian foreign ministry.

Both sides further emphasized reviving the Nigeria-Morocco Business Council to encourage trade and investment under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area and an existing bilateral double taxation treaty.

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said Bamako considers Morocco’s proposal granting autonomy to Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty as “the only serious and credible basis” for resolving the conflict.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony largely controlled by Morocco, remains Africa’s only territory with an unresolved post-colonial status.

The region is also claimed by the Polisario Front, which seeks full independence and advocates for a United Nations-supervised referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people.Mali’s decision comes amid worsening diplomatic ties with Algeria, a key backer of the Polisario Front.

The move is likely to deepen regional tensions, as Algeria and Morocco have long been at odds over the future of the territory.Rabat has promoted its autonomy initiative as a pragmatic solution, while the Polisario Front insists on implementing a 1991 agreement that provides for a referendum on independence under UN oversight.

The geopolitical context has shifted in recent months. In October 2025, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan, signaling growing international backing for Rabat’s position.

The disputed territory is rich in natural resources, including phosphates, and its surrounding waters are considered among the most productive fishing zones in the region, adding economic significance to the political conflict.