Benin, Togo, Niger Owe Nigeria $9.55m for Electricity

Three West African countries, Benin, Togo, and Niger, owe Nigeria about $9.55 million for electricity supplied in the last quarter of 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

NERC’s Q4 2025 report showed that the Market Operator issued invoices worth $20.44m to the three countries but received only $10.89m, representing a remittance performance of 53.28%.

“This means that out of every $100 billed, only $53.28 was paid, leaving a shortfall of $46.72,” the report stated.

Breakdown of payments showed mixed performance: Paras-SBEE (Benin) paid 68.16% of its invoice, Paras-CEET (Togo) paid 64.97%, and Transcorp-SBEE (Ughelli) paid only 12.30%. Transcorp-SBEE (Afam 3) performed better at 82.31%, while Mainstream-NIGELEC (Niger) paid 68.63%. However, Odukpani-CEET (Togo) made no payment at all.

NERC noted that Société Béninoise d’Energie Electrique (SBEE) later paid an additional $3.54m to clear outstanding invoices, while a Nigerian domestic customer, APLE, paid ₦141m for past dues.

In contrast, domestic bilateral customers within Nigeria showed stronger discipline, paying ₦3.5bn out of ₦4.17bn, translating to 84.23% remittance performance.

However, Ajaokuta Steel Company, tagged a special customer, was invoiced ₦1.26bn but made no payment during the period.

The report highlights Nigeria’s persistent challenge in collecting payments for electricity exports, even as the country struggles with its own supply shortages. The $9.55m debt underscores the financial strain on Nigerian power generators.