The figures were presented in Abuja on Friday by the Director-General of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), Chafari Kanya Hanawa, during her opening remarks at the Committee of Ministers meeting hosted by Nigeria.
Strong financial rebound and operational efficiency
Hanawa disclosed that the 2025 tax remittance represents a 156 per cent increase compared to 2024, underscoring what she described as a clear improvement in both operational stability and revenue performance across the regional gas infrastructure.
She noted that WAGP, conceived to unlock Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources for wider West African use, continues to serve as a critical pillar for regional energy cooperation, cleaner fuel access, and industrial development.
“These are not mere claims; they are firmly substantiated by operational performance and financial returns,” she said, highlighting that the project’s design was anchored on strengthening economic integration while advancing cleaner energy transition in the sub-region.
Record throughput and sustained growth since liberalisation
Since the introduction of open access in 2012, the pipeline has recorded a significant expansion in usage. Gas transmission volumes rose by more than 153 per cent, increasing from 30 million MMBtu in 2011 to 80 million MMBtu in 2025.
Hanawa attributed the strong 2025 performance to improved supply from Nigerian gas sources as well as participation by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, which operates as a shipper under a Gas Transportation Agreement with the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo).
She also referenced the Takoradi–Tema reverse flow project, which has enabled gas movement from Takoradi to Tema, improving distribution flexibility within Ghana’s domestic energy network.
According to her, 2025 stands out as the strongest year yet for the pipeline in terms of throughput, operational consistency, and revenue contribution.
Improved reliability and infrastructure upgrades
On operational performance, the WAGPA chief revealed that the pipeline achieved a 99.8 per cent reliability rate in 2025, describing it as a milestone that reflects sustained technical improvements and infrastructure optimisation.
She added that upgrades, including midline compressor enhancements, have contributed to improved stability and efficiency, while ongoing collaboration with stakeholders such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) continues to support system performance.
Hanawa also acknowledged the support of NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President for Gas and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, in strengthening operational outcomes.
Rising revenue and shared regional benefits
WAPCo’s financial contributions to member states also showed notable growth. In 2024, remittances exceeded $12 million for the first time since 2011, later revised to $13.8 million following a joint tax assessment in 2025. This figure was further eclipsed in 2025 with the $32.8 million payout.
Hanawa said the improved earnings reflect “shared benefits generated by the WAGP for the State Parties,” alongside broader economic and environmental gains linked to regional gas trade.
She projected that 2026 throughput could exceed 2025 levels if current trends in supply and demand are sustained.
Regulatory and structural challenges persist
Despite the strong performance indicators, Hanawa identified several ongoing challenges affecting the system’s long-term efficiency and governance structure.
One key issue, she noted, is the need to amend the WAGP Acts in Nigeria and Ghana to grant WAGPA broader licensing authority over shippers. She disclosed that Togo completed its amendment process between February and March 2026, following Benin’s earlier completion in 2023.
Other concerns include rising gas demand across the region, supply constraints, and payment-related issues affecting the execution of WAPCo’s Pipeline Development Plan (PDP). These factors, she said, are currently under review as part of broader planning for future infrastructure projects, including the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline initiative.
2026 outlook and institutional coordination
Looking ahead, WAGPA plans to convene a regional workshop in 2026 to evaluate the performance of the pipeline since its inception in 2011. The session is expected to bring together key stakeholders to assess progress, identify gaps, and develop strategic recommendations, which will be submitted to ministers.
Hanawa also appealed for support in resolving administrative challenges linked to the renewal of ECOWAS laissez-passer documents for WAGPA officials, citing treaty provisions guaranteeing privileges and immunities for staff under the WAGP framework.
ECOWAS backs expansion and long-term optimisation
Also speaking at the meeting, ECOWAS Commission representative Arkadius Koumoin reaffirmed the regional body’s strong backing for the pipeline, describing it as a key instrument for energy integration and economic development in West Africa.
Koumoin stressed that the future of WAGP must go beyond maintenance, urging stakeholders to prioritise “consolidation, optimisation, and expansion.”
He said ECOWAS would continue working with member states, WAGPA, and WAPCo to strengthen the pipeline’s long-term viability, including alignment with broader continental initiatives such as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project.
He further noted that WAGP represents more than infrastructure, describing it as a strategic platform for market integration, energy security, industrial growth, and deeper regional interdependence across West Africa.