Africa’s drive toward energy security and long-term economic transformation is gathering pace, with major cross-border gas projects increasingly viewed as pillars of continental integration.
Chief among them are the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline and the proposed expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline.
Speaking at the 2026 International Energy Week in London, NNPC Ltd Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, emphasized the urgency of fast-tracking regional gas infrastructure to unlock shared prosperity across the continent.
Ojulari described the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline and the West African Gas Pipeline expansion as landmark initiatives capable of reshaping Africa’s energy landscape.
According to him, accelerating these projects would enhance cross-border energy trade, deepen regional integration, and build more resilient energy markets.
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He stressed that collaborative infrastructure development must be matched with coordinated policies among African nations.
Alignment in pricing structures, transit frameworks, and technical standards, he said, would reduce investment barriers, protect shared assets, and ensure fair access to energy resources across borders.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Ojulari called for the creation of joint investment platforms among African National Oil Companies.
Acting collectively, he argued, would enable the continent to attract larger pools of capital and deploy funding more efficiently than fragmented, country-by-country efforts.
Positioning natural gas as central to Africa’s development trajectory, Ojulari described it as the foundation for industrial growth and economic transformation.
He added that scaling up gas production responsibly alongside stronger environmental accountability would allow Africa to balance development priorities with global energy transition commitments.
As global conversations around decarbonisation intensify, Africa’s strategy is increasingly rooted in cooperation.
Integrated gas markets, harmonised regulations, and sustained diplomatic coordination are being framed not as optional ambitions, but as necessary steps to ensure inclusive growth and prevent any nation from being sidelined in the evolving energy transition.
