The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Sunday Oduntan, has defended Nigeria’s continued supply of electricity to Togo, amid ongoing domestic power shortages.
Oduntan emphasized that the country is fulfilling a legally binding bilateral agreement; a commitment he said must be honoured regardless of local supply challenges.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, Oduntan acknowledged the electricity difficulties faced by Nigerians but stressed that the arrangement with Togo is contractual and devoid of sentiment.
“Nigeria has an obligation to fulfill bilateral agreements. So, this is without sentiment. The situation we are in today is due to legacy gas constraints preventing generation companies from producing more electricity,” Oduntan said.
“And the government said they are working to resolve the matter to make payments. It’s about money. If we stop giving electricity to Togo, what happens? The amount we supply internationally is small compared to domestic needs. As long as these countries pay for what they buy, it even helps sustain us.”
Oduntan further highlighted that revenue generated from electricity exports contributes to mitigating the liquidity challenges faced by distribution companies (Discos).
“If domestic customers fail to pay or steal energy, but international customers pay regularly, it helps address our liquidity crisis. The government needs to ensure incremental generation of electricity, which requires paying all stakeholders,” he added.
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The ANED CEO warned against politicizing Nigeria’s bilateral electricity agreements, noting that contracts must be respected to maintain credibility and reliability in regional power partnerships.
Togo has expressed interest in increasing electricity imports from Nigeria through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to meet rising domestic demand.
This was disclosed last week by Jennifer Adighije, Managing Director of NDPHC, following discussions with officials from Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo.
The visiting delegation, led by Director General Débo K’mba Barandao, currently purchases approximately 75 megawatt-hours of electricity from Nigeria under the bilateral arrangement.
Barandao noted that Nigerian electricity imports have been critical in maintaining reliable and affordable power for households, businesses, and public institutions, while strengthening the stability of Togo’s national grid.
“Electricity demand in Togo has increased significantly, particularly in industrial and commercial sectors, and imports from Nigeria have helped sustain a stable supply,” Barandao said.
While Nigeria continues to supply Togo, the country’s own electricity sector faces persistent challenges. The January 2026 Operational Performance Factsheet released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) revealed low generation availability, unstable system frequency, and recurring grid collapses. The report highlights the mismatch between installed capacity and usable power, underscoring structural weaknesses that threaten reliable supply.
Oduntan concluded that fulfilling Nigeria’s international obligations and addressing domestic supply challenges are not mutually exclusive, urging stakeholders to focus on increasing generation capacity, timely payments, and sustained operational efficiency across the sector.