West African Power Pool North Core project almost completed

Mr Sule Abdulaziz, Chairman, WAPP Executive Board, made this known in a statement by the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Abuja on Friday.

According to statement, Abdulaziz, who is also the Managing Director of TCN, spoke at the 9th Meeting of the Joint Supervision Committee.

He said that the project held significant potential to transform power supply and stimulate economic growth across West African countries.

The WAPP Chairman, represented by Mr Aminu Tahir, General Manager/ Programme Coordinator, TCN, said beyond the immediate benefits, the project is expected to reduce electricity costs.

He also said that the project would enhance grid reliability, and ensure a more stable power supply to critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing.

“This project extends beyond infrastructure; it is a practical demonstration of regional cooperation that will stabilise national grids and promote economic activities across borders,” he said.

Abdulaziz described the project as a symbol of unity, resilience, and collective strength, reflecting what can be achieved when countries collaborate toward a shared objective.

He said that even at this stage, the project was already yielding tangible benefits through job creation and capacity development across participating countries, thereby strengthening West Africa’s position in global infrastructure development.

Abdulaziz, however, acknowledged prevailing challenges on the ground, particularly security concerns and logistical constraints, which have continued to impact timelines and operations.

He said that the protection of personnel and critical infrastructure remained paramount to the successful delivery of the project.

The chairman commended the continued support of development partners, particularly the African Development Bank (AFDB) and the World Bank.

He underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and efficient resource utilisation as the project advanced towards completion.

Reiterating the urgency of timely delivery, he urged all stakeholders to act decisively, noting that delays have direct implications for millions of people who depend on improved access to electricity.

He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to accelerating progress, particularly along the Northern Corridor, which serves as a critical backbone of the project.

The Secretary General of WAPP, Mr Abdoulaye Dia provided an update on the project’s progress.

Dia, who was represented by Mr. Kodjo Afidegnon, said that the project had attained an overall physical execution rate of 56 per cent as of 31 Dec. 2025.

He said that 728.7 kilometres of transmission corridors had been cleared out of a total of 880 kilometres, while 5,692 affected persons had been duly compensated.

“While steady progress has been recorded, security challenges and logistical constraints in parts of the region continue to delay timelines and raise costs,” he said.

According to him, sustained collaboration among member states and development partners remains critical to maintaining momentum and ensuring the timely completion of the project.

Mr Michael Ouedraogo, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the project said that security challenges in parts of the region had contributed to delays and increased project costs.

Ouedraogo, who is a member of the Project Management Unit, said that these developments had necessitated the extension of financing agreements and called for stronger support and commitment from beneficiary countries.

He said that efforts were being intensified to enhance coordination, strengthen safety measures, and accelerate implementation across all project segments.

The meeting brought together representatives from the ministries of Energy and Finance of Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo.

It also had in attendance utility executives and key project stakeholders, all committed to advancing a more integrated and reliable regional power network.(NAN)