West African leaders clear the $25bn Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline

West African leaders have formally approved the Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline, clearing a major political hurdle for one of the continent's most ambitious energy infrastructure projects, according to reports gathered this week.

The pipeline, first proposed in the middle of the last decade, is designed to run along the Atlantic coast, linking Nigeria's gas reserves to Morocco while passing through more than a dozen countries. Backers argue it could supply power to communities that have long lived without reliable electricity, deepen regional trade, and eventually feed gas into the European market.

Approval by the bloc's heads of state does not put shovels in the ground on its own. Projects of this scale still require final investment decisions, financing agreements, and detailed engineering work along a route that crosses several national borders. But securing collective political backing removes one of the biggest obstacles that has slowed the plan for years.

Supporters frame the pipeline as a chance to turn gas that is currently flared or under-used into a shared regional asset. Nigeria holds some of the largest proven gas reserves on the continent, and officials have repeatedly said that monetising those reserves is central to the country's economic strategy.

Critics and analysts caution that the economics remain demanding. Multi-country pipelines are notoriously complex to finance and to police, and questions about long-term demand for gas — as Europe pushes toward cleaner energy — will shape how quickly investors commit. Environmental groups have also questioned building new fossil-fuel infrastructure at a time of intensifying climate pressure.

For now, the political green light marks a step forward for a project that has been talked about for years. Whether it moves from communiqués to construction will depend on the financing and engineering decisions still to come.