Nigeria Supplies 24-Hour Electricity to Togo and Benin – TCN

The Managing Director and CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, revealed that Nigeria provides uninterrupted electricity to neighboring countries, Togo and Benin, despite ongoing concerns over recent power grid failures in the country.

“We supply power to Togo, Benin, and Niger on a 24-hour basis, and they pay for it,” Abdulaziz mentioned during an interview. When questioned about the lack of consistent power supply in Nigeria, he clarified, “Nigerians also receive 24-hour electricity, but not everyone. Those in Band A enjoy around 20-22 hours of power daily.”

He explained that power supply varies based on customer bands: Band A customers are prioritized with 20-24 hours of electricity, Band B gets 16-20 hours, and Band C receives 12-16 hours daily.

Expressing optimism for the future, Abdulaziz said, “We can achieve a consistent power supply across Nigeria in less than five years. The new minister is taking a proactive approach, not just superficial measures.”

He also addressed the causes of power system failures, stating that the blame doesn’t always lie with TCN alone. “A system collapse could originate from issues in generation, transmission, or distribution, or even be caused by natural disasters. It’s not fair to solely blame TCN, as we only manage the grid,” he explained.

Abdulaziz also clarified the distinction between TCN and the former National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). “When we were NEPA, we handled generation, transmission, distribution, and marketing.

Now, TCN is solely responsible for transmission, but problems can arise in the generation and distribution sectors. Unfortunately, many still associate us with NEPA and direct their frustrations towards TCN,” he said.

Highlighting the infrastructural challenges, Abdulaziz noted that much of the equipment used in power transmission is outdated, with some over 50 years old. He also touched on electricity pricing in Nigeria, stating that while costs may seem high locally, electricity rates in Nigeria are relatively lower than in other African nations like Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Niger.

Okiki is a seasoned journalist with over seven years of experience covering politics, international news, society, entertainment, and the film industry.