The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken a significant step towards realizing its regional energy security ambitions with the validation of the Host Government Agreement (HGA) for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project (AAGP). 

The HGA, which will be annexed to the previously validated Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), outlines the relationship between a host state and the project company.

The 7,000-kilometer AAGP pipeline project will connect Nigeria to Morocco and expected to supply all ECOWAS member states, Mauritania, and potentially Europe. It will traverse 13 coastal countries and offer a sustainable and secure energy source for the region.

The initiative is part of ECOWAS' efforts to advance regional integration and energy security through regional infrastructure projects. 

The AAGP, which was formed by merging the West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP), aims to address the region's growing energy challenges and promote industrialization, job creation, and economic growth.

Nigeria and Morocco have been instrumental in driving the project forward, with their national oil companies playing a key role. The AAGP aligns with ECOWAS' strategic integration and offers a promising transitional energy source for the region.

The validation of the HGA marks a crucial milestone in the development of the AAGP, which provides a solid foundation for partnerships between governments, international institutions, and the private sector.