The Federal Government plans to earn nearly $1 billion annually by exporting electricity to 15 West African countries under the ECOWAS sub-region starting June 2026.
This revenue projection assumes full utilisation of Nigeria’s 600-megawatt export capacity at current regional tariffs, following a successful grid synchronisation exercise conducted earlier this month.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed the development at a press briefing in Abuja, highlighting that Nigeria conducted a four-hour grid synchronisation test with 15 West African nations on November 8, 2025. This positions Nigeria as a central power hub in the West African Power Pool (WAPP).
The synchronisation, held between 5:04 am and 9:04 am, connected the Nigerian grid—including Niger Republic and parts of Benin and Togo—with other West African systems, covering Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and more. For four uninterrupted hours, electricity flowed seamlessly across borders at a single stable frequency, proving that the sub-region can now operate as a unified power bloc. This marked the first time Nigeria has operated in full harmony with the regional grid.
The government is targeting permanent synchronisation by June 2026, with a second 48-hour test planned. Adelabu assured Nigerians that power exports will not affect domestic electricity supply.
He also noted that a more stable grid will benefit citizens by improving critical services like hospitals, water supply, and digital infrastructure. Nigeria’s transmission capacity now stands at 8,500 megawatts, providing a robust backbone for export plans. However, low demand from distribution companies has limited actual generation to around 5,000MW, leaving 3,500MW unused within the system.
Adelabu concluded that Nigeria has the capacity to generate and export more power, and investment opportunities remain open to interested power sector investors, as demand from the other 14 West African countries continues to grow.
Source:Lovinghananews.com
