The Nigerian government has begun discussions with Libya to construct a gas pipeline that will transport gas from Nigeria to several African nations and the European market. The Gambia, along with Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco, is expected to benefit from this project.
Petroleum Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo announced these plans during a meeting with Libya’s Oil Minister Dr. Khalifa AbduAlsadik at the ongoing Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Houston, USA. He emphasized that this strategic partnership aims to enhance energy cooperation between the two countries.
The discussion regarding the pipeline is not new; it has been a topic of interest due to both nations being significant oil and gas producers in Africa. Previous proposals included routing the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline through Libya instead of Algeria.
Nigeria is transitioning from an oil-focused economy to one that prioritizes gas, bolstered by the country’s substantial gas reserves. Recent executive orders signed by President Tinubu further support this shift, along with the inauguration of three gas plants in Delta and Imo states to increase production by at least 25%.
Additionally, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has signed memoranda of understanding with several African countries as part of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline initiative. These agreements involve Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, and Guinea.
