Nigeria has significantly cut electricity exports to neighboring Niger Republic, reducing supply from 80 megawatts to just 46 megawatts – a 42% decrease. The move comes as Nigeria faces its own severe power generation challenges, with national output struggling to meet domestic demand.
Niger’s Energy Minister Haoua Amadou confirmed the reduced supply has forced the country’s power company, Nigelec, to implement planned blackouts across major cities, including the capital Niamey. The cuts represent the latest development in an ongoing energy crisis stemming from regional sanctions imposed after Niger’s military coup in July 2023. While Nigeria had initially suspended all electricity exports following the coup, limited supplies were later restored at reduced capacity.
The reduction occurs against the backdrop of Nigeria’s worsening power sector crisis. The country currently generates slightly over 5,000 megawatts for its population of more than 200 million people – far below the estimated 30,000 megawatts needed for stable national supply. Most of Nigeria’s electricity comes from natural gas-fired plants and hydroelectric sources, but aging infrastructure and insufficient investment have kept generation levels critically low.
This week, Nigeria’s power generation companies issued a stark warning about the sector’s impending collapse, citing over N4 trillion in unpaid debts. The companies revealed they receive less than 30% of payments owed for electricity supplied to the national grid, with outstanding payments including N2 trillion for 2024 power deliveries and N1.9 trillion in accumulated legacy debts.
Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu acknowledged the crisis and stated that the Finance Ministry would soon address the debt payments. However, industry experts warn that without comprehensive reforms and increased investment, Nigeria’s power shortages will persist, affecting both domestic consumers and neighboring countries that rely on its electricity exports.
The situation highlights the interconnected energy challenges facing West Africa, where political instability and infrastructure limitations continue to undermine reliable power supply across the region. As Nigeria struggles to meet its own electricity needs, its ability to support neighboring nations remains constrained, leaving countries like Niger to face prolonged blackouts and energy insecurity.
