Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project Seen as Key to Africa’s Growth and Stability


RABAT: The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project is expected to be a significant driver for economic growth and stability throughout Africa, according to Amina Benkhadra, Managing Director of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mining. Speaking in Rabat during the 13th edition of the Policy Center for the New South’s “Atlantic Dialogues” conference, Benkhadra highlighted the project’s potential to foster regional integration by involving 13 Atlantic-bordering countries and three additional non-Atlantic nations.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Benkhadra described the project as a catalyst for regional cooperation, transcending bilateral relationships between Morocco and other African states. She emphasized the project’s alignment with Morocco’s partnership policy with African countries, which has led to various collaborative endeavors in agriculture, industry, and energy sectors. The initiative is seen as part of the broader Royal Atlantic Initiative, aimed at promoting growth, prosperity, and sec
urity across the continent.

The pipeline project, which was conceived under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is intended to expedite access to energy and stimulate the development of several industrial sectors, including mining. Benkhadra underscored the project’s potential for job creation, highlighting its importance on human, political, and security fronts. She also noted its significance in strengthening the relationship between Africa and Europe, beyond its primary focus on energy infrastructure.

The conference panel included notable figures such as Youssef Amrani, Morocco’s ambassador to Washington, and Nuno António de Noronha Bragança, coordinator of Portugal’s Atlantic Centre. The “Atlantic Dialogues,” held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, seeks to explore the Royal Atlantic Initiative through a series of cross-cutting topics, offering a fresh approach that integrates action with dialogue.

The event is attended by a diverse group of participants, including former Heads of
state, government ministers, diplomats, high-ranking civil servants, researchers, and representatives of think tanks, as reported by the PCNS.