The Republic of Togo has expressed interest in increasing the amount of electricity it imports from Nigeria in order to meet rising demand for power and support the expansion of electricity access across the country.
The request was made during a strategic meeting between officials of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and a delegation from Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo, the national electricity utility responsible for power supply in Togo.
According to a statement released by the Nigerian power company, the visiting delegation was led by the Director-General of the Togolese utility, Débo-K’mba Barandao.
The visit aimed to strengthen the existing partnership between the two organisations and explore ways to expand cross-border electricity trade between the two West African countries.
Officials said the electricity cooperation between the two companies has already been in place for some time.
Currently, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo purchases about 75 megawatt-hours of electricity from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company through a bilateral arrangement.
This electricity is transmitted to Togo to support its national power grid and help provide stable electricity supply for homes, businesses, and government institutions.
According to the statement, the imported electricity has played an important role in helping Togo maintain a reliable power supply.
The energy supply also supports economic activities in the country, especially in sectors that depend heavily on stable electricity such as manufacturing, commerce, and public services.
During the meeting, Barandao commended the Nigerian power company for the steady electricity supply provided to Togo over the years.
He described the partnership as beneficial to both sides and said it has helped strengthen regional energy cooperation within West Africa.
However, he explained that electricity demand in Togo has been increasing in recent years.
According to him, the rise in demand is partly due to the connection of new customers to the national electricity network.
Many of these new customers include businesses, industries, and commercial enterprises that require reliable electricity to operate.
At the same time, the Togolese government has been implementing policies aimed at expanding electricity access across the country.
These efforts include extending the power grid to more communities and connecting more households to electricity.
As a result, the national electricity utility is seeking additional electricity supply to meet the growing demand.
Barandao said increasing electricity imports from Nigeria would help the country maintain stable electricity delivery to both new and existing consumers.
“The utility company is currently experiencing increasing electricity demand following the onboarding of new customers, including industrial and commercial users,” he said.
He added that increased electricity supply would help ensure that newly connected consumers receive stable and reliable power.
Nigeria has one of the largest electricity generation capacities in West Africa and plays an important role in supplying power to neighbouring countries.
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company operates several power plants across Nigeria under the National Integrated Power Project.
The project was created by the Nigerian government to expand electricity generation and strengthen the country’s power infrastructure.
Power generated from some of these plants can also be exported to neighbouring countries through regional electricity trade arrangements.
Such electricity exports help support energy supply in other West African nations while also creating additional revenue opportunities for Nigeria’s power sector.
Responding to the request, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Jennifer Adighije, said the company is ready to deepen its collaboration with Togo’s national electricity utility.
She explained that NDPHC has the capacity to support electricity supply within the region and remains committed to promoting energy cooperation among West African countries.
Adighije said the partnership between the two companies also aligns with broader regional plans aimed at strengthening electricity trade among member states of the Economic Community of West African States.
Regional electricity cooperation has been widely promoted by ECOWAS as a way to improve power supply across West Africa.
Many countries in the region face electricity shortages due to limited power generation capacity, ageing infrastructure, or financial challenges in their energy sectors.
Cross-border electricity trade allows countries with higher power generation capacity to supply electricity to neighbours experiencing shortages.
This approach helps improve energy stability and encourages economic cooperation among countries in the region.
While expressing willingness to increase electricity exports to Togo, Adighije stressed the need for strong commercial agreements to guide future transactions.
She explained that cross-border electricity supply often involves financial risks if payment systems are not properly structured.
To address this challenge, she said the two organisations must establish reliable financial guarantees and structured payment arrangements.
Such mechanisms, she noted, would ensure that electricity supplied is paid for in a timely and transparent manner.
According to her, a strong payment framework would help protect the commercial interests of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company while ensuring that electricity exports remain sustainable.
She said clear financial arrangements would also help reduce the payment risks that sometimes arise in international electricity supply agreements.
“A reliable payment framework will protect our commercial interests and allow us to continue supporting regional energy stability through electricity exports,” she said.
Both delegations described the meeting as productive and expressed satisfaction with the progress made during discussions.
They agreed to continue engagements in order to develop workable frameworks that would allow for increased electricity supply from Nigeria to Togo.
Improved electricity access in Togo would support economic growth by enabling businesses to operate more efficiently and helping households enjoy better living conditions.
At the same time, the arrangement would help Nigeria expand its role as a major electricity supplier within the West African region.
If the proposed increase in electricity imports is implemented, it could mark another step toward stronger energy integration among countries in West Africa.
Regional cooperation in the power sector is seen as an important strategy for addressing electricity shortages and improving economic development across the sub-region.
