Abuja, Nigeria — August 9, 2025
Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, has stated that Nigeria supplies about six percent of its generated electricity to the Benin Republic as part of a strategic policy rooted in shared waterways and cross-border infrastructure.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Abdullahi explained that most of Nigeria’s hydro systems are located in the southwest and riverine south-south regions, while the bulk of power generation comes from gas plants in the Niger Delta.
He said the current export arrangement is not for direct sales alone but also serves as a diplomatic and security measure to strengthen regional cooperation. According to Abdullahi, the national grid is currently generating, transmitting, and distributing around 6,000 megawatts at certain periods, though sustaining that level remains a challenge.
The ECN chief emphasised that Nigeria’s position as Africa’s most populous nation demands goodwill towards neighbouring countries, especially in shared resource management. Cross-border power exchanges with Benin are conducted through existing interconnectors under the West African Power Pool framework.
Note: The six percent export figure is based on the ECN DG’s statement and has not been independently confirmed by Transmission Company of Nigeria records.