By Benprince Ezeh

Civil Society groups across Africa have said that the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline would not be in the interest of the continent. Hence, the groups called for the project to be called off in the interest of the people.

In a statement signed by groups, they said that the gas pipeline tagged “The Wonder of Africa” had become “The Wounding of Africa.” The groups said they were concerned about the project because the acceleration of global warming exceeds all expectations and greenhouse gas emissions had set a new record in 2016, and argued that: “the construction of this pipeline can only go in the direction of an increase of extraction and consumption of fossil resources, the main causes of global warming.”

The groups warned that contrary to what is often asserted, gas is not clean energy. “The methane in it is more volatile than CO2, and much more powerful in global warming potential. Moreover, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere has accelerated dangerously since 2007. The extraction, transportation and use of fossil fuels has considerable environmental implications: the disturbing effects of seismic studies on marine fauna, the use and release of various chemical substances and wastes, the risks of leaks, fires and explosions related to corrosion and navigation are additional risks to that of methane emissions,” they said.

They argued the construction would destroy livelihoods of millions of our people depending on fisheries in regional waters. “The section already constructed (West African Gas pipeline, WAGP) was done without consulting the populations who rejected the environmental impact study. It is a top-down project that does not consider the needs of the populations and the environment. They are not consulted and will not be the first beneficiaries of this pipeline. While Nigeria is Africa’s largest exporter of gas and oil, less than half of the population has access to electricity. In Benin, Togo, already served by the WAGP, barely a third of the population have access to electricity,” the groups said.

They also alleged that the proposed pipeline is a project for the multinational corporations and that Nigerians would not benefit from oil exploitation in their country. It noted that the energy produced would be used primarily to fuel agribusiness projects and export-oriented industrial clusters at the expense of small farmers and artisans and the satisfaction of the needs of the people.

“This project will be a financial sinkhole. It is likely that the forecast cost of US $ 20 billion will be probably doubled and will lead to an exponential increase of the debt burden of our countries. We believe that the proposed Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is bad for the region, our peoples and the Planet. We say NO to the project, because we choose the climate in place of fossil energy; because we choose the health of our planet against the appetites of multinationals; because we refuse to pay for projects that will not bring us anything and we say no to the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline,” the groups said.

In December 2016, an announcement was made of a nearly 5000 km Nigeria-Morocco offshore gas pipeline which at today’s prices will cost an estimated $20 billion. In reality, the actual costs will likely be much higher. The pipeline would be a continuation of the existing 678 km long West African Gas pipeline, WAGP, that has been in service since 2010. It aims to serve 12 countries on the African continent and some 300 million potential consumers, with a possible extension to the Europe. 

– Mar. 26, 2018 @ 14:18 GMT |