- Nigeria plans to expand power sales across 14 African nations.
- Officials say regional integration will not reduce local electricity availability.
Nigeria has intensified plans for electricity export, even as local demand remains low across the national grid. Officials aim to improve revenue and strengthen regional cooperation. They confirmed that Nigeria will sell electricity to 14 African countries following successful synchronisation with the West African Power Pool. The Federal Government called this a historic technical breakthrough.
During a briefing in Abuja, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu explained that the synchronisation opens a pathway for regional energy trade. He stressed that the government will maintain domestic supply. He also reported that about 60 per cent of generation companies already comply with the Free Governor Control Order ahead of the regulatory deadline.
Nigeria currently produces 600 megawatts for export, though companies send only 350 megawatts to Benin, Togo, and Niger. Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, and officials from the Nigerian Independent System Operator and Market Operator noted that national demand remains weak. Therefore, the regional market provides a strategic outlet for excess power.
Stakeholders argued that integration with the West African Power Pool will generate foreign exchange, attract investment, and stabilise grid operations. It will also unlock industrial growth across the region. Because the pool connects 14 of 15 ECOWAS countries, Nigeria will strengthen its commercial and technical position.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission reported that, in the second quarter of 2025, international customers received invoices totalling $17.54 million. However, they remitted only $9.01 million. The payment rate stands at 51.33%. Companies such as Transcorp Ughelli supply Benin’s SBEE, Mainstream Energy serves Niger’s NIGELEC, and others serve CEET in Togo.
Although manufacturers are shifting to off-grid gas plants and households are adopting renewable energy, Adelabu said that energy remains a national challenge. He described the synchronisation test as the most successful in nearly two decades.
The last major attempt in 2007 failed within minutes. This year’s test lasted four hours without interruption. Nigerian generators even stabilised a sudden disturbance from Côte d’Ivoire.
He added that ongoing investments in substations, transmission lines, and transformers strengthen the grid. Nigeria now operates 8,500 megawatts of transmission capacity. Companies will soon commission many components supported by the World Bank and Siemens.
TCN’s Managing Director clarified that regional synchronisation does not increase grid capacity. Instead, it proves that the grid now shows improved stability and is ready for deeper regional integration.