Insecurity Threatens Nigeria’s Electricity Export Potential, WAPP As ECOWAS Shifts Deadline

FG Moves 40% Shares In Discos To Finance Ministry

SECURITY challenges springing across West African countries may frustrate the projected completion of the West African Power Pool ( WAPP), especially the 330kv north core Project.

The project, which transverse Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Togo may not be completed as initially planned, WAPP said in Abuja yesterday.

WAPP Secretary General, Siengui Apollinaire, noted that the priority projects of the Economic Community of West African States Master Plan for the Development of Regional Power Generation and Transmission Infrastructure would now be completed in 2026.

Apollinaire said the over $ 700 million project would enable electricity export from Nigeria into most landlocked West African countries.

He noted that while significant progress has been made in the project’s implementation, much remains to be accomplished, adding that there was a need for a decisive step in realising the project.

He called for the mobilisation of all stakeholders to focus on security challenges in the project area.

“Persistent issues related to insecurity pose a real threat to achieving the project’s objectives. Construction work cannot progress without overcoming these security challenges. The commitment of the concerned states in the field of security is therefore essential for the project’s success,” Apollinaire said.

Although he noted that progress has also been made concerning the establishment and operationalisation of National Security Coordination Committees, the secretary said results were yet to be seen in Nigeria and Benin Republic.