Benin, Togo, Niger Owe Nigeria $9.55 Million Electricity Debt

Benin, Togo and Niger have piled up a $9.55 million debt to Nigeria for electricity supplied during the fourth quarter of 2025.

NaijaChoice News learnt this from the latest Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission quarterly report, which shows the three countries were billed $20.44 million but paid only $10.89 million. This leaves a remittance rate of just 53.28 per cent for the period.

The unpaid amount means Nigerian power generators lost nearly half of what they were owed from these international bilateral customers. Société Béninoise d’Energie Electrique in Benin, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo and Société Nigerienne d’Electricite in Niger were the main defaulters.

Some contracts performed better than others. Paras-SBEE in Benin paid 68.16 per cent of its $2.45 million invoice while Transcorp-SBEE through Afam 3 managed 82.31 per cent. However, Odukpani-CEET in Togo paid nothing at all.

The report also noted that one international customer cleared part of older debts during the quarter. Société Béninoise d’Energie Electrique settled $3.54 million from previous invoices.

In contrast, domestic bilateral customers inside Nigeria showed far stronger discipline. They remitted 84.23 per cent of the N4.17 billion billed to them in the same period.

Ajaokuta Steel Company, listed as a special customer, was billed N1.26 billion but paid zero kobo.

The figures are based on reconciled market data submitted to NERC as of April 2, 2026.

This latest default adds to a recurring headache for Nigeria’s power sector. While the country grapples with chronic electricity shortages that cripple homes and businesses, GenCos supplying these neighbours continue to battle liquidity issues that slow down investment and maintenance.

The situation raises fresh questions about the sustainability of Nigeria’s power export deals within the ECOWAS region even as the nation positions itself as a regional energy supplier.