Benin, Togo, Niger Accumulate $9.55m Unpaid Electricity Bill to Nigeria
Figures obtained from the quarterly report of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission showed that international bilateral customers were billed a total of $20.44 million for power supplied during the period. However, only $10.89 million was recovered, representing a remittance performance of 53.28 percent.
This leaves an outstanding balance of $9.55 million unpaid by the three neighbouring countries.
The report explained that the shortfall reflects persistent challenges in settlement by international customers connected to Nigeria’s electricity market through bilateral power supply agreements with generating companies (GenCos).
Among the utilities involved are Société Béninoise d’Energie Electrique in Benin, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo in Togo, and Nigerien Electricity Company (NIGELEC) in Niger.
Breakdown of performance shows mixed repayment patterns across contracts. In Benin, Paras-SBEE was billed $2.45 million and paid $1.67 million, a 68.16 percent remittance rate. Transcorp-SBEE (Ughelli) recorded weak performance, paying only $0.46 million out of $3.74 million, representing 12.30 percent.
However, Transcorp-SBEE (Afam 3) performed better with $3.21 million paid from $3.90 million billed, translating to 82.31 percent.
In Togo, Paras-CEET paid $1.46 million out of $2.18 million (64.97 percent), while Odukpani-CEET made no payment on a $2.18 million invoice, recording zero remittance.
Niger’s Mainstream-NIGELEC arrangement showed relatively stronger compliance, with $4.09 million paid from $5.96 million billed, representing 68.63 percent.
The report further noted that some customers also cleared outstanding obligations from previous quarters. SBEE made additional payments of $3.54 million, while APLE remitted N141 million toward earlier invoices.
Despite these partial settlements, the continued shortfall underscores ongoing revenue recovery challenges in Nigeria’s cross-border electricity supply arrangements.
