- Work on scatter system to prevent further grid collapse ongoing
- Nigeria electricity cheaper than other African countries
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that Nigeria supplies electricity to neighboring nations such as Togo, Benin Republic and Niger Republic on a 24 hour basis and receives payment in return.
This was said by TCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Sule Abdulaziz during the Sunday Politics show on Channels Television.
This news comes as Nigeria’s power sector has continuously experience a series of blackouts with the national grid collapsing thrice in seven days. This has caused concerns among Nigerians.
However, Abdulaziz mentioned that some Nigerians are enjoying constant power supply especially those in Band A. According to him, electricity distribution companies better known as DiScos prioritise those in Band A and are expected to supply them “between 18 hours and 22 hours” of electricity.
The TCN head blamed aged infrastructure for the frequent grid collapse but said a backup system is in the works.
“Presently, we are doing the scatter system for the whole network and it is funded by the World Bank, and the project will take two years to be completed, and now, we have done 70% of the project,” he said.
“Almost a month ago, we were at Gwagwalada (in Abuja) with the World Bank where we celebrated the project. It is 70 percent completed. Once we have the scatter system, it will reduce the frequency of getting system disturbances.”
Aside from the lack of electricity being suffered by Nigerians, Electricity tariffs have also increased in recent months. In April, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) hiked the cost of electricity for Band A customers.
With electricity tariff raised from N66 Kw/per hour to N225 kw/per hour, the floating of the naira and removal of fuel subsidy, it is a hard time for Nigerians.
But TCN said Nigerians enjoy lower electricity tariffs than some African countries.
“Nigerians are getting 24 hours supply (daily), it’s not everybody but those people on Band A, they get 20 to 22 hours. Nigerians are paying more because to produce electricity is not easy. You can see the exchange rate,” Abdulaziz said.
“Electricity is now expensive in Nigeria, we are feeling it is expensive because we are getting it at a cheaper price. If you go to other African countries, you go to Niger, you go to Burkina Faso, you go to Senegal, still, now, Nigeria is cheaper.”
