Nigeria is owed approximately N17.45 billion by electricity customers in Benin Republic, Togo and the Niger Republic after the three neighbouring countries settled only a small portion of their power supply invoices for the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The report showed that international bilateral customers were billed a combined $17.48 million for electricity supplied during the period but paid only $4.82 million, leaving an outstanding balance of $12.66 million. The low remittance rate of 27.57 per cent adds to the liquidity challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity market, where delayed payments continue to affect the financial stability of the power value chain.
Nigeria continues to export electricity to neighbouring countries through bilateral agreements involving generation companies operating within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that while cross-border electricity trade remains an important regional energy arrangement, poor payment performance by some international customers has become a recurring issue.
A breakdown of the first-quarter figures showed that Paras-SBEE, which supplies electricity to Benin Republic, and Paras-CEET, serving Togo, made no payments against their respective invoices during the review period. Odukpani-CEET, another supplier to Togo, also failed to remit any payment for electricity received.
Among the international customers, Mainstream-NIGELEC, which exports electricity to the Niger Republic, recorded the strongest payment performance after settling $2.79 million out of its $4.45 million invoice. Transcorp-SBEE’s Ughelli and Afam 3 facilities also made partial payments but remained below full settlement levels.
Despite the weak performance on current invoices, some international customers reduced outstanding debts accumulated from previous billing cycles. NERC disclosed that several payments were received from electricity companies in Benin Republic, Niger Republic and Togo towards earlier obligations, providing some relief to the market operator.
In contrast, domestic bilateral electricity customers demonstrated stronger compliance during the same period by paying N5.82 billion out of N6.12 billion invoiced, representing a 95 per cent remittance rate.
The commission also highlighted the continued non-payment by Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and its host community, which failed to settle invoices issued by both the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and the Market Operator during the first quarter of 2026, further contributing to payment challenges within the country’s electricity sector.
