- Nigeria exported electricity worth N181.62 billion to Togo, Benin, and Niger Republic between January and September 2024.
- Despite the ongoing power challenges, Nigeria has capped the amount of electricity it can export to neighbouring countries.
Despite the ongoing challenges with Nigeria’s electricity supply, the country has continued to export substantial amounts of electricity to neighbouring nations, and according to recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria exported electricity worth a total of N181.62 billion to three West African countries Togo, Benin, and Niger Republic between January and September 2024.
The breakdown of this export reveals a consistent pattern over the first three quarters of the year. Nigeria sold electricity valued at N58.65 billion in the first quarter to these neighbouring countries. This amount increased slightly in the second quarter, with N63.28 billion worth of electricity exported. By the third quarter, the export figure stood at N59.69 billion. This continuous export of electricity highlights Nigeria’s role as a key power provider for countries in the region despite its own domestic power supply struggles.
In contrast, Nigeria’s electricity consumption within its borders has also remained significant. As of the second quarter of 2024, the NBS reported that 12.99 million electricity customers in Nigeria paid N391.71 billion for power consumed. Of these customers, 5.92 million were metered, while 7.07 million were estimated customers. This disparity between metered and estimated customers remains a significant challenge for the electricity sector in the country, as it complicates accurate billing and leads to concerns about revenue collection.
Among Nigeria’s various electricity distribution companies (DisCos), the highest revenues came from Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC), which generated N80.17 billion in the first half of 2024. Other major contributors include Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), which has N68.03 billion, and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which recorded N63.97 billion. The list continues with Ibadan (IBEDC), Benin (BEDC), Port Harcourt (PEDC), and Enugu (EEDC), which all contributed significant sums to the sector’s overall revenue.
Notably, despite these export earnings, Nigeria’s internal electricity supply remains unstable, and the country continues to face various challenges related to power generation, transmission, and distribution. In light of these challenges, the Nigerian government has imposed a cap on the electricity the country can export to its neighbours. This cap is part of an effort to prioritise the domestic supply, addressing the needs of millions of Nigerians who still face unreliable access to electricity. The export limitation ensures enough electricity remains available for local consumption, balancing regional trade with the pressing domestic demand.