The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to earn nearly ₦1.49 trillion annually from electricity exports to 15 West African countries under the ECOWAS power market. This projection comes after Nigeria successfully carried out a landmark grid synchronisation exercise with the West African regional grid earlier this month.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, explained that the revenue estimate is based on the full utilisation of a 600-megawatt export capacity at prevailing regional tariffs. He noted that Nigeria’s entry into the regional electricity market represents a major milestone in diversifying national revenue streams beyond oil and gas.
Adelabu highlighted that the synchronisation test, conducted on November 8, 2025, lasted four hours and confirmed Nigeria’s readiness to participate fully in the West African Power Pool (WAPP). He added that the initiative will not only generate significant income but also strengthen regional cooperation and energy security.
The government believes that electricity exports will help stabilise Nigeria’s power sector by creating new demand for surplus generation capacity, while also positioning the country as a regional energy hub. Analysts, however, caution that Nigeria must address internal challenges such as transmission bottlenecks, gas supply constraints, and distribution inefficiencies to ensure that domestic consumers are not left behind.
