LOMÉ — Sule Abdulaziz has been unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Executive Board of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) for a second three-year term during the organization’s 68th board meeting in Lomé, Togo.
Mr. Abdulaziz, who also serves as the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), received the renewed mandate following a vote by regional energy utility leaders held on 8–9 October 2026.
Addressing the executive board following his confirmation, Mr. Abdulaziz urged member utilities across West Africa to honor their statutory financial contributions to preserve the institution’s operational autonomy and accelerate the deployment of a competitive regional electricity market.
“Statutory contributions are not a formality; they are the basis of WAPP’s autonomy and capacity to act,” Mr. Abdulaziz said. “The regional market will only fulfill its promise if it rests on clearly understood rules, reliable data, credible financial mechanisms, and independent, effective governance.”
Transition to independent market operator
A central focus of the Lomé summit was the progressive establishment of the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO). The framework aims to transition the sub-regional power grid into a fully integrated, commercially viable electricity market while preventing political interference in cross-border energy trading.
WAPP Secretary-General Abdoulaye Dia confirmed that the unbundling of system operations remains on track, with the WAPP Information and Coordination Centre (ICC) managing operational continuity ahead of the formal rollout of Phase 2 of the Regional Electricity Market early next year.
The board also advanced technical reviews regarding power grid synchronization across ECOWAS member states, establishing coordinated operational protocols to ensure grid stability and security during high-capacity cross-border power transfers.
Strategic expansion and governance
During the two-day meeting, the executive board adopted key administrative frameworks, including the Charter of the Forum for Women in Energy in West Africa and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Côte d’Ivoire.
The board also reviewed membership applications from four energy companies seeking to join the regional pool:
- Konexa (Nigeria)
- SOGESART (Senegal)
- SOGEOH (Senegal River Basin Commission)
- HOLDEN – Niger SARL (Independent Power Producer, Niger Republic)
The new admissions are scheduled for final ratification at the upcoming WAPP General Assembly before the end of the year.
The meeting also formally welcomed new utility representatives to the board, including Lawrent Tossou, Managing Director of Benin’s SBEE; Mr. Amidou Traore, Director-General of Côte d’Ivoire’s CI-ENERGIES; and Mr. Julien Sagna of Mali-based SOGEM.
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