Nigeria exported a total of N181.62 billion worth of electricity from January to September 2024.
The exports were distributed across three quarters: N58.65 billion in Q1 to Togo, Benin, and Niger Republic; N63.28 billion in Q2; and N59.69 billion in Q3, according to National Bureau of Statistics data.
Despite the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission imposing a cap on electricity exports to neighboring countries in May 2024 to prioritize the domestic market, Nigeria continued to export significant amounts of electricity.
In May 2024, the NERC directed that power delivery to Nigeria’s neighboring countries should not exceed six per cent of the total grid electricity at any time.
This decision followed the implementation of the April 2024 Supplementary Order, as NERC observed sub-optimal grid dispatch practices.
In the document titled “Interim Order on Transmission System Dispatch Operations, Cross-border Supply and Related Matters,” the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission stated that the cap on electricity exports would remain in place for an initial six-month period, subject to review.
The NERC order, dated April 29, 2024, and effective from May 1, 2024, was signed by NERC’s Chairman, Sanusi Garba, and Vice Chairman, Musiliu Oseni.
NERC’s order argued that the continued electricity exports had compromised the ability of Distribution Companies to meet the Service-Based Tariff commitments, affecting their ability to deliver the agreed-upon service levels to end-use customers.
NERC stated that the system operator’s sole reliance on limiting the load off-take or allocation for Discos to manage recurring grid imbalances, while prioritizing international off-takers and Eligible Customers, is neither efficient nor equitable.
NERC noted that the system operator’s approach to managing generation availability has led to significant hardship for Discos’ customers, including industrial, commercial, and residential users, particularly during peak demand periods.
