Togo, Benin Owe Nigeria $14m Electricity Bills, Says FG

As of the first quarter of 2024, Togo and Benin Republic owe Nigeria a cumulative debt of $14.19 million for electricity supplied to them.

This information was disclosed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which highlighted that none of the four international bilateral customers made any payments against the invoices issued for services rendered during this period.

The breakdown of the debt reveals that Para-SBEE in Benin Republic owes $3.15 million, Transcorp-SBEE in Benin owes $4.46 million, Mainstream-NIGELEC in Togo owes $1.21 million, and Odukpani-CEET in Togo owes $5.36 million.

Despite these outstanding debts, Nigeria continues to supply electricity to these countries under international treaties aimed at fostering regional cooperation and preventing upstream damming of the River Niger, which is crucial for Nigeria's hydropower plants.

In addition to the current debt, an analysis of government data shows that international consumers failed to remit approximately $51.26 million for electricity exported from Nigeria throughout 2023.

The non-payment trend has been described as "payment indiscipline" by NERC, which has urged the Market Operator to enforce market rules to address this issue.

Despite the financial strain, Nigeria's commitment to supplying electricity to its neighbors remains steadfast, driven by strategic considerations and long-term regional stability goals.