In a major milestone for regional energy cooperation, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), in partnership with the West African Power Pool (WAPP) Information and Coordination Centre, has successfully synchronised Nigeria’s national electricity grid with the broader West African power network.
The historic test, conducted between 5:04 a.m. and 9:04 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025, marks the first successful integration of Nigeria, the Niger Republic, and parts of Benin and Togo into a single, synchronised West African electricity grid.
According to a joint statement released on Sunday by NISO’s Board Chairman, Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abdu Bello Mohammed, the achievement represents a significant step toward a unified, reliable, and stable power market across the 15 ECOWAS member states.
“The Nigerian Independent System Operator, in collaboration with the West African Power Pool Information and Coordination Centre, has successfully carried out the long-awaited synchronisation test between the Nigerian power grid — which includes the Niger Republic and parts of Benin and Togo — and the rest of the West African power grid,” the statement read.
The test is part of the ECOWAS regional energy integration programme, designed to enable seamless electricity exchange and improve energy security across the sub-region.
Experts say the synchronisation will pave the way for cross-border power trading, reduce grid instability, and enhance the reliability of electricity supply within member countries.
The successful test also signifies the readiness of Nigeria’s power infrastructure to operate within a harmonised 50Hz frequency system, allowing smoother interconnection with neighbouring grids and fostering greater regional energy cooperation.
Energy analysts have hailed the development as a “historic breakthrough” that could boost investment confidence in the West African electricity market and help achieve ECOWAS’s long-term goal of universal access to sustainable energy.
