Nigeria Supplies Electricity to Neighboring Countries Despite Frequent Blackouts
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, revealed that Nigeria supplies electricity to neighboring countries, including Togo, Benin Republic, and Niger Republic. According to Abdulaziz, these countries receive power from Nigeria on a 24-hour basis and pay for the service.
“Nigeria’s power sector has been facing challenges, but we are working to improve the situation,” Abdulaziz said. “Some Nigerians are enjoying 24-hour power supply, especially those in Band A, who receive 20 to 22 hours of electricity daily.”
Abdulaziz explained that electricity distribution companies, also known as DiScos, prioritize customers in Band A, who are expected to receive between 18 hours and 22 hours of electricity daily. However, the frequent collapse of the national grid has raised concerns among Nigerians, who have questioned the handling of the country’s power sector.
The TCN chief attributed the frequent grid collapse to aged infrastructure but assured that a backup system is being developed. “We are working on a scatter system for the whole network, funded by the World Bank, which will take two years to complete,” Abdulaziz said. “We have already completed 70% of the project, and once it is finished, it will reduce the frequency of system disturbances.”
Despite the challenges, Abdulaziz pointed out that Nigeria’s electricity tariffs are lower than those in some African countries. “Nigerians are paying more because producing electricity is not easy, especially with the current exchange rate,” he said. “However, if you compare our tariffs with those in other African countries, such as Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal, you will see that Nigeria is still cheaper.”
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently increased electricity tariffs for customers under Band A, from N66 to N225 per kilowatt-hour, sparking outrage among Nigerians. However, Abdulaziz emphasized that the increased tariffs are still lower than those in other African countries.
As Nigeria continues to work on improving its power sector, the TCN’s efforts to supply electricity to neighboring countries demonstrate the country’s commitment to regional cooperation and development.
