Nigeria claims it is owed over $11 million by Benin and Togo for electricity supplied in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
- Nigeria is owed over $11 million by Benin and Togo for Q1 2025 electricity supplied, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
- Only $5.8 million of $17.24 million billed to six international customers was recovered, with Niger Republic fully settling its invoice.
- The non-payment issue not only affects international trade but also involves domestic entities, underscoring systemic financial challenges.
Despite receiving steady power through bilateral agreements with Nigerian generation companies, the two countries paid only a fraction of their outstanding invoices. Specifically, Togo made no payments, while Benin partially settled its debt, resulting in a combined debt of over $11 million.
In Q1 2025, Nigeria invoiced six international electricity customers $17.24 million, but only recovered $5.8 million, approximately 34%.
Niger Republic was the sole country to fully settle its invoice, paying $3.03 million in full. The significant shortfall, particularly from Benin and Togo, has raised concerns about the viability of Nigeria’s cross-border electricity trade.
Punch ng reports that domestically, some industrial customers paid their electricity bills in full, while many others defaulted or made partial payments, leaving outstanding invoices worth hundreds of millions of naira.
Nigeria’s regulator questions payment default
NERC highlighted the non-payment issue among major government-owned entities, describing it as a long-standing problem requiring urgent reform.
According to NERC, the poor payment culture of these countries threatens the financial stability of Nigeria’s power market. The report noted that the persistent failure to meet payment obligations undermines confidence in bilateral power deals.
Experts warn that without strong enforcement, local and cross-border defaults could deter future investments in Nigeria’s power sector, exacerbating liquidity challenges for generation and transmission companies.
As energy demand rises in the region, Nigeria’s role as a power exporter faces pressure to ensure payment terms are honored.
Olamilekan Okebiorun
