Nigeria is pressing ahead with a $25 billion undersea gas pipeline project aimed at supplying natural gas to Europe, Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed on Monday during a meeting with executives from Vitol Group at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline is designed to carry gas from Nigeria along the West African coastline to Morocco and onward to Europe, strengthening energy ties between Africa and the European continent.
Vice President Shettima highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have made Nigeria increasingly attractive to global investors, particularly in the energy sector.
“In the last 25 years, no leader has shown the courage to implement bold reforms as President Tinubu has,” Shettima stated, citing the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, and sweeping tax reforms.
He urged international investors to align with Nigeria’s energy transition ambitions, adding that the country’s gas sector offers both stability and transparency in a volatile global market.
“Our economy is fundamentally gas-based, not oil-based. With the eighth-largest gas reserves globally, we are determined to fully unlock our gas potential,” Shettima noted.
He described the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company as a model of efficiency, largely shielded from political interference, making it a reliable foundation for deeper gas sector investment.
“This undersea pipeline to Europe is a major undertaking requiring around $25 billion and significant technical expertise. We seek your support more for your knowledge than for your funding. Gas supply reliability is key, and this project is central to that goal,” the Vice President told Vitol representatives.
He called on the company to use its influence and international connections to help mobilise resources for the pipeline, promising that the project would be managed with full transparency.
Earlier, Vitol’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeffrey Dellapina, affirmed the group’s long-standing ties with Nigeria.
“Nigeria has been a vital partner for us across several areas—from downstream operations to financing and trading. We remain fully committed and ready to invest where necessary,” Dellapina said.
Murtala Baloni, Vitol’s Head of Public Affairs, also emphasised the firm’s current productive partnerships with Nigerian businesses and government institutions.
“We have consistently supported Nigeria’s energy projects, including contributing $300 million to Project Gazelle during the COVID-19 period,” Baloni stated, referring to a crude oil-backed finance deal arranged with NNPC Limited.
Vitol reiterated its readiness to stay invested and evolve alongside Nigeria’s growing energy landscape.