Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have taken a major step towards enhancing regional energy integration with the signing of a joint communiqué on the implementation of the Gulf of Guinea Gas Pipeline (GOGGP) Project Treaty.
The document was signed at the NNPC Towers in Abuja by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, and Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development, Antonio Ondo.
The ministers reaffirmed their joint dedication to the GOGGP initiative, recognising it as a catalyst for regional economic growth, improved energy access, and sustainable industrial expansion.
As part of the agreed roadmap, a Joint Steering Committee and a Sub-Committee on Gas Supply will be established. Membership will be drawn from key institutions including Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC Ltd, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development, SONAGAS, and project developers Gas Invest Limited / Amitee Global. These committees will be responsible for securing gas supply and overseeing the incorporation of the project’s holding and pipeline companies.
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Additional steps outlined in the roadmap include the conclusion of the International Project Agreement (IPA), formal ratification and submission of project instruments (the Treaty and IPA) to the United Nations, and the inauguration of inter-institutional bodies and sub-committees as stipulated in the Treaty framework.
Speaking on the significance of the agreement, Mr Ekpo remarked:
The GOGGP Treaty represents a shared economic vision and a bond of trust between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.”
He stressed the importance of ensuring that the implementation adheres to constitutional and legal frameworks, adding:
“The treaty is not just a political commitment but a national obligation to the people and future generations.”
Ekpo reiterated Nigeria’s full support for the project and affirmed the country’s readiness to work collaboratively with Equatorial Guinea to meet all procedural and legal obligations.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Minister Antonio Ondo welcomed the progress achieved thus far and noted that the project would further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.
He called on the joint implementation committee to carry out its work with the highest standards of integrity:
“The joint committee overseeing the project’s implementation must work diligently, transparently, and with utmost integrity to meet the set deadlines.”
Ondo also underscored the project’s far-reaching benefits, stating it would boost energy access and economic development for both nations.
The Gulf of Guinea Gas Pipeline is a strategic infrastructure project aimed at unlocking regional gas reserves, enhancing energy connectivity, and supporting long-term industrial and economic transformation in West and Central Africa.
