The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved Nigeria’s contributions to the 2020 Budget of the West African Power Pool (WAPP).
Other projects approved by the FEC include:the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oworonsoki-Ojota Expressway (N22.28 billion); the Kano-Wudil-Maiduguri section of the Kano-Maiduguri Expressway (N8 billion) and the installation of security gadgets for seven railway sections (N1.21 billion).
Speaking at a news conference on the WAPP budget, Minister of Power, Mamman Saleh said the specialised pool covers 14 of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The minister listed them as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
The WAPP was created by a decision at the 22nd Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government last year.
Saleh noted that participation in the regional market will generate immediate foreign exchange for Nigeria as oil revenue is dwindling.
“The pool is about having synergy within the West African region. The decision has been taken by ECOWAS, it’s for the generation of electricity of the region so as to have more constant and steady power supply.
“It’s like the national grid in Nigeria, so we are going to have regional grid. It means in case there is a failure in one country, another can supplement. The $2 million is a contribution.”
