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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has successfully unified the electricity grids of Nigeria, Niger, Benin, and Togo, achieving a historic milestone in West African energy cooperation.
The feat, accomplished in partnership with the West African Power Pool Information and Coordination Centre (WAPP-ICC), involved the long-awaited synchronisation test of the Nigerian grid with neighboring countries over the weekend. The exercise establishes a unified West African electricity grid operating at a single frequency, enhancing reliability, stability, and cross-border energy exchange.
While several synchronisation attempts had been proposed in the past, the only known physical trial occurred in 2007 and lasted just seven minutes before being abandoned. “Through renewed engagements and strengthened coordination with the WAPP-ICC, we have now successfully achieved full synchronization. This was made possible through improved system monitoring, stricter frequency control, harmonized operational standards, and real-time communication among participating control centers”, NISO said.
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The synchronisation links Area 1 (Nigeria, Niger, and parts of Benin and Togo) with Areas 2 and 3 (the rest of West Africa), creating a single operational grid. According to NISO, the initiative aims to improve system reliability through shared reserves, enable cost-effective power generation and trading under the West African Electricity Market (WAEM), and strengthen institutional collaboration among member system operators.
“For Nigeria, this achievement provides multiple benefits, including unlocking stranded generation capacity, enabling energy exports and foreign exchange earnings, improving grid resilience, and reinforcing the country’s leadership in regional energy integration,” the statement added.
It also opens access to donor funding for priority transmission projects such as the North Core Project in Birnin Kebbi and the Ajegunle 330 kV Substation in Lagos.
The successful synchronisation marks a historic breakthrough, showcasing NISO’s technical capacity to manage complex grid operations in line with international standards and setting a precedent for future regional energy cooperation across ECOWAS.
