NERC Report: Togo, Benin, and Niger Owe Nigeria $11M for 2025 Power Supply
West African neighbors Niger, Benin, and Togo have accumulated an outstanding debt of $11.16 million for electricity supplied by Nigerian power generation companies in 2025. This was disclosed in the latest annual report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
According to the regulatory body, the Market Operator (MO) issued invoices totaling $73.91 million to the three international buyers under bilateral arrangements. However, only $62.75 million was recovered during the period, representing a remittance performance of 84.90 percent.
Breakdown of International Power Debt
The debtors include the state-run power firms of the neighboring nations: Société Nigérienne d’Électricité (NIGELEC) of Niger, Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE) of Benin, and Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo (CEET). These cross-border customers rely on Nigeria’s grid for ancillary services but failed to fully clear their financial obligations for the year.
Ajaokuta Steel Faces Disconnection Over Unpaid Bills
While international buyers recorded an 84.90 percent payment rate, Nigeria’s domestic bilateral customers performed better, paying N12.75 trillion out of the N13.20 trillion invoiced, resulting in a 96.60 percent remittance rate. However, a major domestic failure was noted with Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and its host community.
Classified as a special customer, the steel complex made zero payments toward its electricity invoices in 2025. Ajaokuta owes N4.96 billion to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and an additional N500 million to the Market Operator. NERC has escalated the issue to federal ministries, warning that the company faces disconnection due to gross indebtedness.
DisCo Performance and Energy Accounting Efficiency
The NERC report also analyzed the performance of domestic electricity distribution companies (DisCos). In 2025, DisCos received 31,251.77 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity but only billed customers for 25,867.86 GWh, translating to an overall Energy Accounting Efficiency (EAE) of 82.77 percent.
EAE assesses how effectively utility companies track and account for the energy distributed across their networks. The report revealed a wide performance gap among regional distributors:
• Ibadan DisCo: Recorded the highest efficiency at 88.84 percent.
• Enugu DisCo: Recorded the lowest efficiency at 72.18 percent.
NERC emphasized that DisCos must take proactive steps to limit losses. The commission recommended key interventions, including upgrading distribution infrastructure, minimizing technical losses, improving customer mapping, expanding metering systems, and utilizing modern technology to combat power theft.