Nigerian Government has pledged commitment to completing all necessary projects involving it to facilitate actualization of the ECOWAS electricity market being spearheaded by the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

The Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, gave the assurance while declaring open the 34th WAPP Technical and financial partners coordinating meeting held in Abuja, Thursday.

He assured the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria towards the endeavours of the WAPP as well as the energy integration ideals of ECOWAS.

According to him, “Several of WAPP priority projects involving Nigeria are already under implementation such as the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydropower Facilities as well as the 330 kilovolt Nigeria Niger Benin/Togo Burkina Interconnection Project.

“The preparation of the WAPP Median Backbone involving Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire is currently under procurement and it is expected that the second transmission line from Nigeria to Benin/Togo shall be ready for financing next year.

“The development of the 330 kilovolt WAPP Eastern Backbone in Nigeria that shall be from Calabar to Jogana through Kashimbila shall commence soon.

“We shall therefore look forward to the usual solidarity and engagement with the Partners in the realisation Of these projects.”

The Minister noted that the ECOWAS Master Plan for the Development of Regional Generation and Transmission Infrastructure that has identified the priority projects to be pursued by the WAPP for the period 2019 to 2033 has an investment requirement of about 36.4 billion US. Dollars.

However, Jedy Agba said that the near term completion of the interconnections of all mainland ECOWAS Member States as well as the completion of the WAPP Information and Coordination Center that will manage the ‘regional electricity market signified a new Chapter in the existence of WAPP.

The Chairman of WAPP, Usman Gur Mohammed expressed optimism that the ECOWAS subregion is steadily and surely approaching the dawn of the full operationalisation of a regional electricity market.

He explained that the regional electricity market will yield socioeconomic benefits, uplift the well-being of the ECOWAS citizenry, spur confidence and attract the private sector to take up investments without anxiety, and represent another positive step in the removal of borders among ECOWAS Member States.

He stressed that in order to ensure that these aspirations come to fruition, it is imperative to reinforce collaboration with Partners to ensure that the key underlying issues that may affect the journey are addressed.

According to Mohammed who doubles as the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria, “Paramount among these are the realisation of a seamless and efficient regional power grid, the attainment of market functionality and the existence of the right knowhow to manage both technical as well as market related issues.

“It is in light of these among others that the WAPP, in its 2020 to 2023 Business Plan continues to put at the fore the need to deploy appropriate actions that shall accelerate the attainment of an efficient and credible electricity market within the subregion as well as the development of the infrastructure dictated by the ECOWAS Master Plan for the Development of Regional Power Generation and Transmission Infrastructure 2019 2033 to support the functioning of the market.”