From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Chairman of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) Executive Board, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, has been unanimously re-elected for another three-year tenure during the 68th Meeting of the Board held in Lome.
Speaking after his re-election, Abdulaziz thanked members of the Board for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to continue working with the team to advance WAPP’s cause. He called on member utilities to strengthen collective responsibility in building a more viable regional electricity market.
He recalled that the 67th Meeting had approved principles for the progressive establishment of the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), while preserving operational continuity through the transitional role of the WAPP Information and Coordination Centre (ICC).
Abdulaziz said the task before the Board is to ensure those decisions are implemented within a sound legal and institutional framework.
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The Chairman stressed that statutory contributions remain the foundation of WAPP’s autonomy, warning that regular funding is critical to its credibility and service delivery.
“Statutory contributions are not a formality; they are the basis of WAPP’s autonomy and capacity to act,” he said, urging member utilities to honour their financial obligations.
He also highlighted network synchronisation and the launch of the regional electricity market as two key technical priorities, noting that the market will only fulfil its promise if it rests on clearly understood rules, reliable data, credible financial mechanisms and independent governance.
Earlier, the Secretary General of WAPP, Mr. Abdoulaye Dia, said the Pool has continued to implement guidelines on institutional strengthening and the operationalisation of ISMO, with progress already earning it new partnerships ahead of the launch of the second phase of the regional market early next year.
The Board also adopted the Charter of the Forum for Women in Energy in West Africa, signed an MoU with the Millennium Challenge Account Cote d’Ivoire, and reviewed membership applications from four new utilities, including Konexa from Nigeria, ahead of ratification at the WAPP General Assembly later this year.
