The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) says it partnered with the West African Power Pool Information and Coordination Centre (WAPP-ICC) to conduct a synchronisation test between Nigeria’s power grid and the wider West African power network.
In a statement on Saturday by Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, NISO’s chairman, board of directors, and Abdu Bello, NISO’s chief executive officer (CEO), the organisation said the Nigerian power grid extends to Niger Republic and parts of Benin and Togo.
“The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), in collaboration with the West African Power Pool Information and Coordination Centre (WAPP-ICC) has successfully carried out the long-awaited synchronization test between the Nigerian power grid which includes Niger Republic and parts of Benin and Togo and the rest of the West African power grid,” the statement reads.
The agency noted that the test was conducted on November 8 between 05.04am and 09.04am, and “marks a major breakthrough in the ongoing effort to establish a unified West African electricity grid operating at a single frequency”.
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“Although several synchronization arrangements had been proposed in the past, the only known physical synchronization attempt took place in 2007 and lasted for about seven minutes before being discontinued,” NISO said.
“Following renewed engagements and enhanced coordination between NISO and the WAPP-ICC, the exercise has now been successfully accomplished through improved system monitoring, stricter frequency control, harmonized operational standards, and real-time communication among participating control centres.
“The synchronization connects Area 1 (Nigeria, Niger, and parts of Benin and Togo) with Areas 2 and 3 (the rest of West Africa), creating a single operational grid that enhances reliability, stability, and cross-border energy exchange across the ECOWAS region.”
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The system operator said the initiative is designed to achieve operational unification of the regional grid and improve system reliability through shared reserves.
According to the statement, it also seeks to promote cost-effective power generation and trading within the West African electricity market (WAEM), while strengthening institutional collaboration among member system operators
For Nigeria, NISO said the milestone provides multiple benefits, including unlocking stranded generation capacity, facilitating energy exports and foreign exchange earnings, improving grid resilience, and reinforcing the nation’s leadership in regional energy integration.
“It also opens access to donor funding for priority transmission projects such as the North Core Project in Birnin Kebbi and the Ajegunle 330 kV Substation in Lagos State,” the statement added.
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The successful synchronisation, NISO said, marks a historic achievement in regional energy cooperation and demonstrates its technical capacity to manage complex grid operations in line with international standards.
