The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited has met with agencies of the federal and state governments to enhance cross-border gas distribution.
At a stakeholder meeting held recently in Abuja, relevant agencies in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector reaffirmed their commitment to improving WAPCo’s capacity to distribute gas across Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
According to a statement on Thursday, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Federal Ministries of Petroleum Resources, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Inland Waterways Authority, Ogun and Lagos environmental protection agencies, the Nigerian Navy and others gathered in Abuja to discuss digital transformation, regulatory reforms, and legislative alignment.
The focus was to strengthen cross-border operations along WAPCo’s 691-kilometre pipeline system, which spans Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
In his address, the General Counsel of WAPCo, Simon Adamade, underscored the company’s founding principles, legal framework, and longstanding commitment to the communities it serves.
He traced WAPCo’s origins to a 1982 ECOWAS initiative, which culminated in the 2003 Treaty establishing the West African Gas Pipeline Project.
“The WAGP system is one of Africa’s most ambitious cross-border energy projects, comprising 691km of pipeline infrastructure stretching from Nigeria to Ghana,” Adamade noted.
Adamade described the forum as a “comprehensive, cross-functional engagement” involving ministries, private sector actors, traditional authorities, and security agencies working in concert to support WAPCo’s mission.
“These discussions reflect the commitment of all parties to the shared vision of synergy and integration envisioned by WAPCo’s establishment,” he said.
WAPCo reiterated its dedication to mutual development with host communities, citing this partnership as the foundation of its corporate social responsibility initiatives to promote sustainable growth and improve living standards.
The company said the pipeline system has since evolved from a unidirectional gas flow to a dynamic, bi-directional network serving multiple commercial and community needs.
“The WAGP system includes a 569-kilometre offshore segment of 20-inch pipelines, supported by critical infrastructure such as the Lagos Beach Compressor Station, the Tema Regulation and Metering Station, and the Itoki Regulation and Metering Station,” the statement added.
Adamade also provided updates on ongoing legislative amendments to the West African Gas Pipeline Act across member states, which are aimed at boosting efficiency and long-term viability.
“The proposed amendments address key fiscal issues, including licensing by the West African Gas Pipeline Authority. Engagements are in progress with relevant ministries and parliaments, each at various stages,” Adamade said.
The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Zach Adedeji, represented by Deputy Director and Head of Oil and Gas Audit, Lebi Victoria, announced that revenue collection processes had been fully digitised, stating that the reform would directly benefit WAPCo. He also committed to streamlining fiscal procedures in alignment with WAPCo’s needs.
A Senior Technical Adviser to the Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Steve Ayuba, highlighted that licensing processes have been automated and the agency now handles all enquiries through a digital platform, enhancing responsiveness and efficiency.
“The forum’s outcomes align with ECOWAS’s broader agenda of regional energy integration and economic cooperation. Through deepened stakeholder collaboration and legal modernisation, WAPCo is positioned to remain a key catalyst in the region’s energy development,” the statement read.
