By Adewale Sanyaolu
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) says the ongoing amendment of the WAPCo Act is a strategic step toward enhancing operational efficiency and securing the company’s long-term viability.
General Counsel, WAPCo, Mr. Odey Simon Adamade, stated this in his address during a high-level stakeholder meeting involving key figures from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, host communities, traditional rulers, and regulatory agencies, with a focus on strengthening cross-border operations along WAPCo’s 691-kilometer pipeline system, which spans Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
Other discussions at the meeting centered on digital transformation, regulatory reforms, and legislative alignment.
“The proposed amendments will address key fiscal issues, including licensing by the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA). Engagements are in progress with relevant ministries and parliaments, each at various stages,” Adamade said.
Adamade highlighted 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 (WAGP) Project.
“The WAGP system is one of Africa’s most ambitious cross-border energy projects, comprising 691 kilometers of pipeline infrastructure stretching from Nigeria to Ghana.”
Stakeholders commended WAPCo for its transparency and open communication, which they said are vital for fostering sustainable collaboration.
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.”
WAPCo reiterated its dedication to mutual development with host communities, citing this partnership as the foundation of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These efforts, it said, are designed to promote sustainable growth and improve living standards.
According to Adamade, the forum’s outcomes align with ECOWAS’s broader agenda of regional energy integration and economic cooperation. Through deepened stakeholder collaboration and legal modernization, WAPCo is positioned to remain a key catalyst in the region’s energy development.
Senior officials from key regulatory agencies pledged improved support for WAPCo through digitisation and enhanced service delivery.
Zach Adedeji, Executive Chairman of FIRS, represented by Lebi Victoria, Deputy Director and Head of Oil and Gas Audit, disclosed that revenue collection processes had been fully digitised — a reform that will directly benefit WAPCo.
He assured that FIRS is also committed to streamlining fiscal procedures in alignment with WAPCo’s needs.
Steve Zakka Ayuba, Senior Technical Adviser to the Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, highlighted that licensing processes have been automated and that the agency now handles all enquiries through a digital platform, enhancing responsiveness and efficiency.
The WAGP system includes a 569-kilometer 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.
A highlight of the event was the presence of His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Temitope Adamson, monarch of the Ajido Kingdom.
His attendance symbolised the deep-rooted community integration that WAPCo has fostered since commencing commercial operations in 2011. The pipeline system has since evolved from a unidirectional gas flow to a dynamic, bi-directional network serving multiple commercial and community needs.
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