The West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) has announced plans to expand the US$1 billion West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), marking a pivotal moment in the continent’s energy landscape.
The move, if realised, would elevate the 678-kilometre pipeline from a four-country conduit into the foundation of a regionally integrated natural gas market, connecting more nations and deepening intra-African energy trade.
Speaking at the 2025 West Africa Gas Summit (WAGS) held in Accra, WAGPA Director-General Chafari Kanya Hanawa described the pipeline as a strategic linchpin in Africa’s transition toward cleaner, more reliable energy systems.
“We see the WAGP not just as infrastructure but also a strategic asset in our transition toward a gas-powered regional economy.”
Chafari Kanya Hanawa, WAGPA Director-General
The WAGP currently transports Nigerian natural gas to Benin, Togo, and Ghana, powering up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity generation and helping recipient nations reduce reliance on costlier and more polluting fuels. But Hanawa signalled that WAGPA is now thinking beyond its initial mandate.
She said, “A backbone alone is not enough,” hinting at plans to extend the pipeline to inland and new coastal markets. Although specific countries were not disclosed, she emphasized that the goal is to position the WAGP as a launchpad for broader interconnection.
Hanawa also underscored that future expansions would depend on deep regional collaboration and harmonisation of national energy strategies with continental frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Originally constructed under a 2003 multilateral treaty, the WAGP is sub-Saharan Africa’s first cross-border gas transmission system.
It supplies up to 5 billion cubic metres of Nigerian gas annually and is managed by the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo)—a joint venture that includes Chevron, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and Shell.
WAGPA, as the intergovernmental regulator, represents the interests of the pipeline’s member-states and sets regulatory frameworks for cross-border gas flows.
Hanawa’s remarks suggest a strategic shift: from maintaining existing infrastructure to catalyzing industrialisation and economic growth across the region through energy cooperation and market integration.
Public-Private Partnerships
To support its ambitions, WAGPA has entered a three-year strategic partnership with The Gas Consortium, a move Hanawa described as more than a sponsorship deal.
“This is not just a sponsorship. It is a commitment to building a lasting platform for unlocking West Africa’s gas potential.”
Chafari Kanya Hanawa, WAGPA Director-General
The Gas Consortium will support future editions of the summit and engage in knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and investor mobilisation efforts across the region.
A major theme of this year’s summit was the role of gas infrastructure in industrial development. Hanawa emphasised that governments must enact agile and investor-friendly regulatory reforms to attract capital and ensure energy affordability for industrial users.
“The goal is not just compliance. The goal is to attract capital, drive down costs and create certainty for investors and end-users—especially in the industrial sector.”
Chafari Kanya Hanawa, WAGPA Director-General
She also called for a rethinking of geographic limitations, encouraging stakeholders to explore how gas can be extended to landlocked countries via pipeline extensions, compressed natural gas (CNG) hubs, or virtual pipeline models.
“Regionalisation of gas is not a one-off achievement. It’s a process that requires bold thinking and inclusive models.”
Chafari Kanya Hanawa, WAGPA Director-General
With the WAGP already contributing significantly to electricity access in four nations, the expansion plan aligns with Africa’s broader push for energy security, industrial growth, and climate resilience.
By extending gas access beyond coastal countries, WAGPA seeks to unlock untapped markets, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and support the continent’s long-term development objectives.
The summit concluded with a shared vision of a future where natural gas plays a central role in powering industries, creating jobs, and advancing cross-border collaboration across West Africa.
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