The Federal Government says it expects to generate close to $1 billion yearly from electricity exports to 15 countries within the ECOWAS sub-region starting June 2026.
The projection is based on Nigeria’s full utilisation of a 600-megawatt export capacity at prevailing regional tariffs, as the country positions itself for deeper participation in the West African Power Pool following a landmark grid synchronisation test earlier this month.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, confirmed that Nigeria successfully synchronised its national grid with interconnected West African systems for four hours on November 8, 2025 marking the first seamless, unified grid operation across the sub-region.
The test linked Nigeria’s grid, serving Niger Republic and parts of Benin and Togo, with the wider regional network covering Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. Adelabu said the exercise demonstrated the region’s readiness to operate on a single, stable frequency.
He added that a second, longer test run is planned ahead of permanent synchronisation next year, which would allow Nigeria to fully leverage its role as a regional power hub.
Also see: TotalEnergies, Conoil Seal Offshore Asset Swap Deal
Market data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator shows that Nigeria already earmarks 600MW daily for cross-border trade. With Nigeria’s electricity tariff averaging $0.07/kWh far lower than the sub-regional average of $0.19/kWh officials estimate that exporting the full allocation could yield about $2.73 million per day, translating to nearly $1 billion annually.
Officials say the revenue could ease funding gaps in the power sector and support regional energy market growth.
