Despite ongoing electricity shortages in Nigeria, neighbouring countries continue to benefit from the country’s power supply, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Togo, Niger, and Benin currently owe Nigeria a combined $17.8 million (about ₦25 billion) for electricity supplied under existing bilateral agreements.
NERC’s third-quarter 2025 report shows that these international customers were invoiced a total of $18.69 million for electricity delivered during the period, but remitted only $7.125 million—leaving an outstanding balance of $11.56 million. Legacy invoices totaling $14.7 million were only partially settled, with $6.23 million still unpaid.
The report identifies the electricity recipients as Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo, Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique of Benin, and Société Nigérienne d’Électricité of Niger. Power supplied to these countries is generated by Nigeria’s grid-connected generation companies and delivered through bilateral cross-border arrangements.
NERC noted that the remittance performance of these international off-takers was just 38.09 per cent, in contrast to domestic bilateral customers, who paid ₦3.19 billion out of ₦3.64 billion invoiced, representing an 87.61 per cent remittance rate.
The commission’s disclosure underscores the challenges Nigeria faces in collecting revenue from electricity exports, even as local consumers struggle with inconsistent supply, prompting many households to rely on solar panels, inverters, and generators.
