- The rising electricity debt owed by Nigeria’s neighbours, Togo, Niger, and Benin, highlights ongoing challenges in regional power supply and payment compliance.
- Nigeria’s growing electricity debt from neighbouring countries threatens power sector stability and calls for stronger regional cooperation.
Togo, Niger, and Benin collectively owe Nigeria nearly $20 million in unpaid electricity bills for power supplied in the first half of 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The three countries, through their utilities SBEE, CEET, and NIGELEC, paid only $14.81 million of the $34.78 million billed by Nigerian Generation Companies.
NERC has raised concerns over the persistent non-payment, urging the Federal Government to take swift action, warning that the mounting foreign debt undermines operational efficiency and regional power stability.
Domestically, Nigeria also faces revenue challenges, as ₦368.26 billion in electricity bills remained unpaid between January and June 2025.
In contrast, the energy sector recorded progress with a new partnership between Genesis Energy and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to channel excess power from the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) into the national grid. The project, which could add 120MW of capacity, supports Nigeria’s Energy Transition and Industrialisation Agenda.
While cross-border debts continue to pressure Nigeria’s finances, local innovations and partnerships, such as those of Genesis Energy and NNPCL, signal a move toward a more sustainable and self-reliant energy future.