Govt Eyes N1.49tn Annual Revenue From Electricity Export to 15 West African Countries

The Federal Government has announced plans to generate nearly N1.49 trillion annually from electricity exports to 15 West African countries, marking one of Nigeria’s biggest projected revenue streams from the power sector.

The projection comes after Nigeria successfully completed a four-hour grid synchronisation test with the West African Power Pool, a historic step that positions the country for full regional power trade by June 2026.

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who disclosed this in Abuja, said exporting the full 600MW daily allocation at the regional tariff of $0.19/kWh could fetch close to $1 billion yearly, strengthening liquidity in the electricity market and boosting regional energy integration.

He explained that the November 8, 2025 synchronisation marked the first time Nigeria operated seamlessly at a unified frequency with 15 West African nations, a milestone that proves the technical readiness for permanent interconnection.

Adelabu emphasised that the achievement would improve grid stability, enhance essential services and support upcoming transmission expansion projects aimed at delivering more reliable electricity nationwide.

“The benefits of synchronisation with other WAPP countries would extend directly to the Nigerian people. A more stable grid improves the performance of essential services such as hospitals, water supply, transport, digital infrastructure and public institutions,” he said.

“We have the capacity to generate more electricity, and as long as there is demand in the other 14 West African countries, Nigeria can easily export energy to them without compromising domestic supply,” he added.

Officials of the Nigerian Independent System Operator and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission noted that rising adoption of free-governor control among generating companies has boosted grid responsiveness, reinforcing Nigeria’s readiness for a unified regional electricity market by mid-2026.