Still Owing: Niger Republic Yet to Pay Nigeria N4.22bn for Electricity Supply

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recent quarterly report has revealed that Niger Republic is owing Nigeria N4.22bn ($5.48m) for electricity provision.

In 2022, 70% of Niger’s share of electricity was purchased from the Nigerian business Mainstream, according to a report by NIGELEC, the country’s sole electricity supplier.

The electricity Nigeria supplies to Niger Republic is being produced by Kanji Dam in Niger State.

Although, Niger is working to finish its first dam by 2025 to break its energy dependence on Nigeria, until the Junta took over the helms of affairs, Nigeria was still supplying them about 50% of power used in the Country..

The report read, “None of the under-listed international customers made any payment against the cumulative $16.11m invoice issued to them in 2023/Q1; Paras-SBEE ($3.46m), Transcorp-SBEE ($3.85 million), Mainstream-NIGELEC ($5.48m) and Odukpani-CEET ($3.32 million).

Recall that on July 26, the military junta overthrew the democratically elected government in Niger.

As a result of a failed diplomatic solution, the Niger junta cut its ties with Nigeria.

Nigeria retaliated by cutting the electricity supplies to Niger.

The regional tension escalated as ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a standby military force following the refusal of the Niger junta to restore democracy.