Manny Ita –
Nigeria has indicated its readiness and capacity to increase electricity exports to Togo and other West African nations under the Economic Community of West African States, as rising demand in the subregion continues to strain existing supply.
The development follows a meeting between the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo, where discussions focused on expanding electricity supply to meet growing consumption needs in Togo.
Togo’s increasing electricity demand, driven by the addition of new industrial and commercial users as well as expanded access initiatives, has compelled the country to rely more heavily on imports from Nigeria. Officials disclosed during the meeting that CEET currently receives about 75 megawatt-hours of electricity from Nigeria but is seeking an increase to support its expanding customer base.
The Director-General of CEET commended NDPHC for its consistency in power delivery, stating that “the utility company is currently experiencing increasing electricity demand following the onboarding of new customers, including industrial and commercial users, as well as ongoing efforts by the Togolese government to expand access to electricity across the country.”
“In view of this development, CEET expressed strong interest in increasing the volume of electricity it off-takes from NDPHC, noting that additional supply would support the country’s power expansion strategy and ensure that newly connected consumers receive stable electricity,” the director-general added.
Responding, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, affirmed Nigeria’s willingness to increase electricity exports to Togo and other regional partners, noting that the company has the operational capacity through its network of power plants under the National Integrated Power Project.
She, however, stressed the importance of establishing sustainable commercial frameworks to underpin future transactions. “While expressing willingness to increase electricity exports to Togo, the NDPHC boss emphasised the need for bankable and sustainable commercial arrangements to guide future transactions between the two organisations,” a statement from the company said.
According to the statement, “establishing credible financial guarantees and structured payment mechanisms would help mitigate exposure to payment risks often associated with cross-border electricity supply, thereby ensuring the long-term sustainability of the partnership.”
It added that “a reliable payment framework would not only protect NDPHC’s commercial interests but also enable the company to continue supporting regional energy stability through power exports.”
Both parties described the meeting as constructive, reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening collaboration in the electricity sector and advancing regional energy integration across West Africa.
