NERC, via its recent quarterly report, also listed other organisations that are heavily indebted to Nigeria
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has claimed neighboring Niger Republic currently owes Nigeria the sum of N4.22bn ($5.48m) being debt accruing from the electricity it purchased over a period of time.
NERC made this disclosure through its recently published quarterly report, where it also listed other organisations that are heavily indebted to 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).”
This revelation comes after a military junta overthrew the democratically elected government in Niger on July 26 and a subsequent diplomatic row led to the new leaders cutting ties with Nigeria.
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After the coup, Nigeria retaliated by announcing a number of sanctions which included closing borders linking Niger, halting flight activities to the nation indefinitely and cutting electricity supply to it.
The regional tension has since escalated with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS ) ordering the deployment of a standby military force following the refusal of the junta to restore democracy.
Diplomatic ties between the two West African countries dated back several decades. 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.
Kainji Dam in Niger State also produces the electricity delivered to the Niger Republic, but the country is working assiduously to finish its first dam by 2025 to break its energy dependence on Nigeria.