Despite the recent electricity tariff hike from N66 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to N225/kWh, Nigeria still stands among the countries with the cheapest electricity tariff in West Africa.
On April 3, 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced an increase in the tariff payable by electricity customers under the Band A category (homes that enjoy up to 20 hours of electricity a day) to N225/kWh.
This increase has caused uproar among different sectors and businesses, as it translates to higher expenses in daily living. People now have to be conscious of their electricity usage and may have to cut down on the regular usage of most of their appliances.
However, data from Global Petrol Prices has revealed that regardless of this 240 percent increase, Nigeria still has one of the cheapest electricity tariff among other West African countries.
Using the exchange rate of N1,330/$, BusinessDay calculations show that the current price of electricity tariff in Nigeria is $0.20/kWh
Here are 5 West African countries with higher electricity tariffs than Nigeria:
Mali
Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is the eighth-largest country in Africa, bordered by Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast to the south, Guinea to the southwest, and Senegal and Mauritania to the west.
Mali’s electricity tariff is $0.215/kWh, which shows that the differential percentage between Mali and Nigeria’s tariff is about 1164 percent.
Togo
Togo is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. It has a population of approximately 8 million people and covers an area of about 57,000 square kilometres. With 55.7 percent of the country’s population having access to electricity, the country’s electricity tariff is currently $0.215/kWh, similar to Mali.
Senegal
Senegal’s power sector has advanced significantly in recent years; according to recent figures, 70 percent of the population has access to electricity. With the state-owned Senelec in charge of producing, distributing, and transmitting power, the country currently charges $0.180/kwh as its electricity tariff, making it the third West African country with the highest tariff.
Ghana
Ghana has made significant strides in its electricity sector, as recent data show that 85 percent of the population has access to electricity, with efforts ongoing to increase this figure further. Ghana’s current electricity tariff is $0.125/kWh.
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, officially known as the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, has implemented various initiatives to improve access to electricity which has helped it provide electricity to over 66 percent of its population. The country’s electricity tariff is $0.119/kWh.
