Nigeria, Benin, Niger, Others Pledge to Deliver on 913km West Africa Power Project

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Members of the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) project yesterday vowed to deliver on the 913-kilometre electricity project expected to span 14 West African countries.

The members include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, The Gambia, Togo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

Chairman of WAPP, Sule Abdulaziz, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), while speaking at the 7th joint supervision committee meeting in Abuja, stated that the project would redefine the region’s energy landscape when completed.

The regional interconnection initiative, encompassing the construction of 880 km of 330 kV and 33 km of 225 kV high voltage transmission lines, Abdulaziz said, will catalyse efficient energy trade, encourage commercial exchange agreements, and bring electricity access to communities along the transmission line.

 “It stands at the forefront of a multifaceted effort to break the shackles of energy poverty and elevate the living standards of our communities. Beyond being a paradigm shift on how we approach power generation and distribution. It is a lifeline for those living in areas with limited or no electricity access.

“This visionary initiative prioritises underserved regions, aiming to bridge the gap in electricity access. It’s about bringing power to schools, clinics, and businesses that have long operated in the shadow of energy scarcity.

“The North Core Project is a beacon of hope for these communities, unlocking their full potential, and promising not only a reliable power supply but also a catalyst for socioeconomic progress,”   he stated.

According to him, the goal is to ensure that the North Core Project delivers on its promise of reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity for the people of the region.

“It’s a colossal task, but it’s one that we are well-equipped to handle, armed with collective wisdom and a commitment to progress,” the TCN CEO added.

In his remarks, WAPP Secretary General, Siengui  Ki, said the North Core Project had recorded significant progress, with the foundation, assembly, and lifting works for the lines having commenced, while fencing and levelling of substation sites were in progress.

The 913-km transmission lines and five substations project, will have an initial capacity of about 430mw that could reach 600mw five to 10 years after commissioning.

“In addition to the effective start of work on the sites, the recruitment of staff for the local branches of the project management unit was completed with an orientation session in Abuja in June 2023 to enhance their understanding of their mission.

“In the field of environmental and social safeguards, our activities are also ongoing. To date, resettlement action plans for Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria have been approved by technical and financial partners, and compensation procedures for project-affected persons are underway in each of these countries.

“Regarding security, progress has also been made concerning the establishment and operationalisation of National Security Coordination Committees (NSSE). In Niger, the NSCC-NE, established since February 2022, is operational.

“The NSCC in Burkina Faso, established in June 2023, has started its activities with the definition of its strategy and budget, but resource mobilisation remains a challenge. In Benin, the ongoing process of establishing the NSCC has not yet been completed, and that of Nigeria is still pending establishment,” Ki stressed.

Persistent issues related to insecurity, he said, pose a real threat to achieving the project’s objectives, noting that construction work cannot progress without overcoming the security challenges.

“For this year, the budget submitted for your consideration, equivalent to $156 million, will, barring unforeseen circumstances, complete the work in Nigeria and Benin,” he noted.