The Federal Government of Nigeria is projecting nearly $1 billion (around N1.49 trillion) in annual revenue from electricity exports to 15 West African countries under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) starting June 2026.
The revenue forecast is based on Nigeria’s full 600-megawatt export capacity and the prevailing regional tariffs, as the country moves toward full participation in the West African power market following a historic grid synchronisation test conducted earlier this month.
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, announced the potential revenue during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. He confirmed that Nigeria successfully carried out a four-hour grid synchronisation exercise with 15 West African countries on November 8, 2025, demonstrating the country’s capability to operate as part of a unified regional power network.
The synchronisation exercise, conducted from 5:04 am to 9:04 am, involved Nigeria’s grid connecting with systems in Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali. For four continuous hours, power flowed seamlessly across borders at a stable frequency, highlighting the region’s readiness to function as a harmonised energy bloc.
Minister Adelabu explained that Nigeria aims to achieve permanent grid synchronisation by June 2026, with a second 48-hour test expected once discussions with regional operators conclude.
Currently, Nigeria allocates 600MW for bilateral power trade each day. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigeria offers the cheapest electricity tariffs in West Africa, averaging about $0.07 per kilowatt-hour, compared to roughly $0.19/kWh in other regional countries. At regional tariff rates, exporting 600MW could generate close to $1 billion annually, providing critical support for the domestic power sector and boosting regional electricity markets.
Adelabu assured Nigerians that exporting power will not compromise domestic supply. He stressed that synchronisation benefits would extend to essential services, including hospitals, water supply, transport, and digital infrastructure. Expansion projects such as the North-Core line, Ajegunle 330 kV Substation, Kaduna–Kano transmission upgrades, and Gwagwalada–Gurara connection are expected to further improve grid reliability.
Currently, Nigeria’s transmission capacity has reached 8,500MW, although generation is around 5,000MW due to low demand from electricity distribution companies, leaving roughly 3,500MW available for potential exports.
Officials from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) noted that 60% of Nigeria’s power-generating plants have implemented the free governor control (FGC) system, allowing generators to automatically respond to frequency disturbances. This operational upgrade significantly enhances grid stability, ensuring that any tripping events are instantly managed without manual intervention. Full compliance with FGC is expected to further improve resilience and investor confidence in Nigeria’s electricity market.
