Nigeria Justifies Electricity Supply to Benin Republic as Strategic Necessity

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has defended the country’s practice of supplying 6% of its hydroelectric power to neighboring Benin Republic, calling it a strategic imperative despite Nigeria’s ongoing electricity challenges. ECN Director-General Mustafa Abdullahi revealed this during an interview with Channels Television on Saturday, explaining that the arrangement stems from shared waterways and regional diplomacy.

Abdullahi stated that Nigeria’s hydro systems are concentrated in border regions with Benin, making power sharing unavoidable. “We cannot share rivers and waterways with a country and deny them electricity as Africa’s giant,” he said. The energy chief disclosed that the agreement prevented a potential crisis when Benin considered building a competing dam near Nigeria’s facilities, which could have disrupted operations for both nations.

While justifying the cross-border electricity supply, Abdullahi highlighted Nigeria’s recent progress in power generation, with current output reaching 6,000 megawatts – a significant increase from 4,000MW in 2023. He noted that 60% of Nigerians now have electricity access, though about 85 million citizens still lack reliable power. The DG assured that government policies would continue expanding domestic supply while maintaining beneficial regional relationships.

Energy analysts observe the arrangement serves multiple strategic purposes, including maintaining regional stability, preventing resource conflicts, and reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership position in West Africa. The commission emphasized that only hydro-generated power is shared, representing a small portion of Nigeria’s total output, while other sources remain dedicated to domestic consumption.

The revelation has sparked mixed reactions, with some stakeholders praising the regional cooperation while others question the wisdom of exporting power amid local shortages. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has called for clearer guidelines on cross-border energy agreements. The ECN plans stakeholder consultations next month to address concerns and outline Nigeria’s long-term energy diplomacy strategy.