The Managing Director and CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria,Sule Abdulaziz has revealed that Nigeria provides uninterrupted electricity to neighboring countries Togo and Benin, while many Nigerians still face inconsistent power supply.
Abdulaziz made this disclosure during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Tonight program on Sunday.
“We supply Togo, Benin, and Niger. They get power from Nigeria on a 24-hour basis, and they are paying for it,” Abdulaziz stated.
The TCN chief’s comments come amid ongoing national debates following a recent collapse of the power grid. When questioned about why many Nigerians do not enjoy uninterrupted electricity, Abdulaziz clarified that certain consumers in Nigeria do receive up to 24-hour power supply.
“Nigerians are getting 24-hour supply, but it’s not everyone. Those in Band A receive 20-22 hours of power supply,” he explained.
According to reports from PUNCH, electricity customers in Band A are prioritized for 20-24 hours of electricity daily, while Band B customers receive 16-20 hours, and those in Band C get 12-16 hours.
Despite the current challenges, Abdulaziz expressed optimism about improving power supply nationwide within five years.
“I am telling you we can get consistent power supply in less than five years. The new minister is looking at the problems, he is not doing cosmetic showdowns,” he said.
Abdulaziz also addressed the issue of system collapses, asserting that not all outages originate from TCN. “If there is a system collapse, it doesn’t mean all the problems are from TCN. It can be from generation, it can be from transmission, it can be from distribution,” he explained.
He further highlighted the distinction between the now-defunct National Electric Power Authority and the current TCN, stating, “People have to understand the difference. When we were NEPA, we were responsible for generation, transmission, distribution, and marketing. But now we are only in charge of transmission.”
Abdulaziz also pointed to aging infrastructure as a significant issue, noting that much of the equipment in use is outdated. “Most of the equipment we use is over 50 years old,” he said.
On the subject of electricity costs, Abdulaziz argued that electricity in Nigeria is relatively affordable compared to other African nations.
“We feel it is expensive because we are getting it at a cheaper price. If you go to other African countries like Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Niger, Nigeria’s electricity is cheaper,” he added.
