The Economic Community of West African States has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional energy data integration with the third annual workshop on the ECOWAS Energy Information System.
The event, held in Lagos from February 25 to 28, brought together representatives from ECOWAS member states, specialised energy agencies, and the ECOWAS Directorate of Energy and Mines.
The workshop aims to enhance energy data management and integration across West Africa by reinforcing member states’ capacities and improving the quality of energy data collection, storage, and analysis.
The ECOWAS-EIS, launched in March 2023 in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, was designed to ensure a reliable framework for energy data collection and dissemination.
The system provides real-time statistics on energy supply, consumption, electricity access, and infrastructure.
According to the Director of Energy and Mines at the ECOWAS Commission, Dabire Bayaornibè, the platform addresses a long-standing challenge of limited access to comprehensive energy information faced by member states.
“In previous years, several member states struggled to track energy usage and outages. Today, through ECOWAS-EIS, we are improving access to accurate data, enhancing national energy information systems, and strengthening regional integration,” Bayaornibè said.
Today, Nigeria is being recognised as a model for energy data management following the launch of its National Energy Information System in October 2024.
With ECOWAS’ support, the NEIS introduced a computerised data collection and transmission system, allowing for real-time energy statistics.
The success of Nigeria’s initiative has prompted ECOWAS to encourage other member states to adopt similar models.
The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, represented by Mohammed Adam Mundu, emphasised the importance of the workshop in consolidating the region’s energy data efforts.
“The first workshop in Accra, Ghana, in 2022 assessed the region’s energy information system, and Côte d’Ivoire hosted the second edition in 2023, focusing on data quality improvements. This third workshop in Lagos now aims to consolidate progress and expand the system across member states,” Mundu said.
Guinea-Bissau’s Director of Energy Planning and Statistics, Mohammadu Saido Baldi, echoed this sentiment, stressing that knowledge-sharing from other nations would help Guinea-Bissau improve its national energy database.
“A well-structured energy information system is essential for developing informed policies and achieving long-term energy security,” Baldi stated.
