Abuja: Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the sustainability and expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) as stakeholders met in Abuja to review progress and plan the next phase. Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), stated this while opening the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the West African Gas Pipeline Project.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the 678 km subsea pipeline, which transports natural gas from Nigeria to Benin, Togo, and Ghana for power generation, remains a critical regional asset after more than 14 years of commercial operations. Ekpo mentioned that the meeting, convened in line with the treaty establishing the project, aimed at reviewing the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) report, addressing implementation issues, and agreeing on measures to achieve its objectives.
The pipeline, conceived under the ECOWAS energy integration agenda, has continued to deliver results in regional cooperation, energy security, and economic development. Since its inception, WAGP has transported over 613 million MMBtu of natural gas, with Nigeria supplying more than 68 percent of the total volume to Benin, Togo, and Ghana. About 80 million MMBtu of gas was transported in 2025, representing a 22 percent increase compared to previous years.
Ekpo reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the legal and institutional framework of the WAGP, including ongoing efforts to amend the WAGP Act currently before the National Assembly. Earlier, WAGPA Director-General Mrs. Chafari Hanawa commended member states and stakeholders for their continued support, describing the pipeline as one of the most enduring examples of regional integration in West Africa.
Hanawa noted that gas throughput increased from 30 million MMBtu in 2011 to about 80 million MMBtu in 2025, marking the best performance since the project became operational. She attributed the growth to improved gas supply from Nigeria and the open access regime, which enabled more shippers to utilize the infrastructure, including reverse gas flow within Ghana. The project generated more than 32.8 million dollars in corporate income tax for member states in 2025, a 156 percent increase from 2024.
However, Hanawa identified key challenges, including the need to boost gas supply, ensure timely payment for services, and complete amendments to the WAGP Act in member countries. WAGPA plans to convene a stakeholders’ workshop as part of its 2026 work programme to assess operations and explore improvement opportunities.
Mr. Arkadius Koumoin from the ECOWAS Commission highlighted WAGP’s role in strengthening energy security, supporting electricity generation, and enhancing investor confidence across member states. He called for continued collaboration among stakeholders to sustain gains and address challenges.
Mr. Abiodun Bodunrin, Managing Director of WAGP Company (WAPCo), reported that WAPCo maintained safety and system integrity, achieving over 12 years and 13.75 million workforce hours without any recordable injury and 99 percent system reliability in 2025. The pipeline delivered significant economic value, with gas supplied to Ghana between 2011 and 2025 generating an estimated three billion dollars in savings compared to liquid fuels for power generation.
Bodunrin expressed concern over the financial health of the gas value chain, revealing that unsecured overdue invoices exceeded 50 million dollars as of March 30, 2026. This poses risks to investor confidence and the long-term sustainability of the regional gas market. WAPCo is working with stakeholders to increase pipeline capacity utilization by 100 MMSCFD in 2026, representing about a 45 percent increase compared to 2024 levels.
He urged stronger commitment from stakeholders in securing gas supply and offtake agreements, ensuring timely payments, and pursuing legislative and regulatory reforms. Efforts are ongoing to expand market opportunities in Tema, Lom©, and Cotonou. “WAGP has demonstrated its value as a safe, reliable, and economically important regional infrastructure. Unlocking its next phase requires collective action to strengthen its value chain, improve market confidence, and expand utilization,” Bodunrin stated.
The meeting was attended by ministers and representatives from Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, and Togo, as well as officials of ECOWAS, WAGPA, and WAPCo.