KEY POINTS
- Sule Abdulaziz was unanimously re-elected WAPP chairman for another three years.
- WAPP urged member utilities to meet their financial obligations.
- The organisation is advancing plans for an independent system and market operator.
The chairman of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) Executive Board, Sule Abdulaziz, has been unanimously re-elected for another three-year term, with a call for stronger financial commitments and institutional frameworks to improve regional electricity cooperation.
Abdulaziz, who also heads Nigeria’s Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), secured another term at the 68th meeting of the WAPP Executive Board held in Lomé, Togo.
According to a statement by TCN, his re-election reflects the confidence of board members in his leadership as the regional organisation continues efforts to strengthen electricity integration and develop a viable power market across West Africa.
Following his re-election, Abdulaziz thanked members of the executive board for renewing their confidence in him.
He pledged to continue working with member utilities and other stakeholders to advance regional electricity integration, improve cooperation and strengthen the institutions responsible for managing cross-border power exchange.
Abdulaziz stressed that decisions taken at board meetings must translate into practical improvements in WAPP’s ability to meet the region’s growing energy needs.
He also emphasised that member utilities share responsibility for building a sustainable regional electricity market capable of supporting reliable power supply and stronger economic cooperation among participating countries.
WAPP coordinates efforts to integrate the electricity systems of West African countries, enabling participating utilities to exchange power and improve the use of available generation and transmission infrastructure.
WAPP pushes for stronger financial commitments
Abdulaziz urged member electricity utilities to fulfil their statutory financial obligations to the organisation, warning that consistent contributions are essential to its independence and effectiveness.
He described regular financial commitments as necessary for sustaining WAPP’s operations and implementing its regional electricity integration plans.
Reliable funding is particularly important as the organisation pursues institutional reforms and works to strengthen the structures needed to coordinate electricity markets across national boundaries.
The renewed call also places responsibility on member utilities to support the organisation’s activities rather than rely solely on policy commitments to achieve regional power sector objectives.
Abdulaziz also recalled decisions taken at the 67th meeting of the WAPP Executive Board, where members approved principles for establishing an Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO).
The proposed arrangement is intended to support the development and management of the regional electricity market. However, the board also agreed to retain the WAPP Information and Coordination Centre (ICC) to ensure operational continuity during the transition.
