Electricity distribution companies have defended continued power exports to Togo, citing the need to fulfill bilateral agreements despite ongoing domestic supply shortages.
Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors Chief Executive Officer Sunday Oduntan stressed that contractual sanctity must prevail over sentiment as gas constraints and liquidity challenges continue to plague generation.
“Nigeria has an obligation to fulfill bilateral agreements. If we stop giving electricity to Togo, what happens? How much electricity do we give to Togo compared to what we need?” Oduntan said.
He noted that paid exports help sustain Discos financially amid widespread domestic non-payment and electricity theft that erode revenue streams.
Togo currently imports 75 megawatt-hours of electricity through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and is seeking to increase the volume to meet growing industrial and commercial demand.
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The exports provide a valuable foreign exchange lifeline for Nigerian operators, even as the government works to resolve generation companies’ and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading’s payment challenges to boost incremental output.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s January 2026 factsheet exposed persistent issues of low generation, frequency instability, and capacity mismatches that continue to fuel grid collapses.
Oduntan clarified that the volume of exports remains minimal compared to national electricity needs, urging all stakeholders to fulfill their payment obligations to improve system performance.
Bilateral commitments with neighboring countries, including Niger and Togo, generate reliable revenue streams that help cushion the liquidity crisis caused by defaulting domestic consumers.
Togo’s Director General Débo K’mba Barandao has praised the imports for providing affordable and reliable power that supports households and the country’s economy.
Discos are prioritizing the honoring of contracts to preserve regional credibility as domestic sector reforms lag behind expectations.
The balancing act highlights the tension between generating export dollars from reliable paying customers and addressing persistent blackouts affecting Nigerian households and businesses.
