KEY POINTS
- ANED says Nigeria must continue supplying electricity to Togo due to binding bilateral agreements despite domestic shortages.
- Export revenue from paying international customers helps ease liquidity challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.
- Togo currently imports about 75MWh from Nigeria and is seeking increased supply to meet rising electricity demand.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, has defended Nigeria’s continued electricity supply to Togo despite persistent domestic shortages, insisting the country must honour its bilateral commitments.
Speaking in an interview with Nairametrics on Monday, Oduntan said the power export arrangement is based on contractual obligations that cannot be abandoned due to local supply challenges. His remarks come as many Nigerians continue to grapple with outages caused by limited generation and gas constraints affecting power plants.
According to him, the current electricity shortfall is largely tied to legacy gas supply issues that prevent generation companies from producing more power. He explained that the Federal Government is working to resolve the problem, particularly by addressing payment issues within the sector.
Oduntan stressed that halting electricity supply to neighbouring countries would not significantly improve Nigeria’s domestic situation.
He noted that the volume exported to Togo is relatively small compared to national demand, and that the arrangement remains beneficial, especially because foreign customers pay consistently for electricity consumed.
Revenue from Cross-Border Sales Help Electricity Distribution Companies Manage Crisis
He further argued that revenue from cross-border electricity sales helps distribution companies manage the sector’s liquidity crisis. With many domestic consumers failing to pay for electricity and energy theft still prevalent, he said reliable payments from international buyers help sustain operations.
Oduntan added that the long-term solution lies in increasing electricity generation by ensuring all stakeholders in the value chain are paid.
He cautioned against politicising the issue, stressing that bilateral agreements must be respected to maintain credibility and contractual integrity.
Meanwhile, Togo has signalled interest in expanding electricity imports from Nigeria through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company as it seeks to meet growing domestic demand.
The Managing Director of the company, Jennifer Adighije, disclosed this after hosting officials from Togo’s national utility, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo.
The delegation was led by Director General Débo K’mba Barandao, who said Togo currently purchases about 75 megawatt-hours of electricity from Nigeria under the bilateral arrangement.
He noted that the imported power has helped sustain stable supply, support economic activity, and maintain affordability for households, businesses, and public institutions.
