Niger, Benin Owe Nigeria N32.1 Billion Electricity Bill Says NERC

Niger, Benin Owing Nigeria a Total Sum of N32.1 billion for Electricity

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Monday said Niger Republic and the Republic of Benin owed Nigeria a combined debt of N32.1 billion for the electricity supply to the two nations in 2019.

According to the NERC, countries that get electricity supply from Nigeria under diplomatic agreement did not pay anything to the country in 2019.

Electricity regulatory commission further stated that all invoices sent to the nations through their national electricity corporations by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and Market Operator (MO) were yet to be paid for.

In the first quarter of 2019, NERC said “during the same period, the invoices issued to Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd (designated as special customer) and international customers (i.e., Societe Nigerienne d’electricite – NIGELEC and Communaute Electrique du Benin–CEB) were N0.3 billion and N12.8 billion respectively.

“However, neither NBET nor MO received payments from the special and international customers during the period under review. The Nigerian government has continued to engage governments of neighbouring countries benefitting from the export supply to ensure timely payments for the electricity purchased from Nigeria.”

Also in the second quarter, NERC noted that, “the invoices issued to Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd (designated as special customer) and international customers (i.e., Societe Nigerienne d’electricite – NIGELEC and Communaute Electrique du Benin–CEB) stood at N0.32 billion and N10.85 billion respectively,” adding that during the quarter under review, the special and international customers made no payment to NBET and MO while the Nigerian government continued to engage governments of neighbouring countries benefitting from the export supply to ensure timely payments for the electricity purchased.