The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has disclosed that three neighbouring countries—Togo, Niger and the Benin Republic—owe Nigeria a combined $11.57 million for electricity supplied under bilateral agreements in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025.
According to NERC’s Q3 2025 report, the market operator (MO) issued a total invoice of $18.69 million to international electricity offtakers during the period. However, only $7.12 million was remitted, representing a payment performance of 38.09 per cent.
The commission identified the defaulting international customers as Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo, Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique of the Republic of Benin, and Société Nigérienne d’Électricité of the Republic of Niger. The utilities receive power from Nigerian electricity generation companies (GenCos) through bilateral arrangements within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
“The three (3) international bilateral customers being supplied by GenCos in the NESI made a payment of $7.12 million against the cumulative invoice of $18.69 million issued by the MO for services rendered in 2025/Q3, translating to a remittance performance of 38.09%,” the report stated.
On the domestic front, NERC said local bilateral customers recorded stronger remittance levels. Domestic customers paid ₦3.19 billion out of the ₦3.64 billion invoiced by the MO for Q3 2025, representing an 87.61 per cent remittance performance.
The commission also noted that some customers settled outstanding obligations from previous quarters. “It is noteworthy that some bilateral customers also made payments for outstanding MO invoices from previous quarters, as follows: the MO received $7.84 million from the international bilateral customers and ₦1,299.66 million from the domestic bilateral customers,” NERC said.
However, the regulator expressed concern over continued non-payment by Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and its host community, classified as a special customer. NERC said the customer failed to remit any payment towards the ₦1.03 billion invoice issued by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc, as well as an additional ₦100 million invoice from the MO during the period under review.
Describing the issue as longstanding, the commission said it had formally communicated the need for urgent intervention to relevant federal government authorities to address the persistent non-compliance.
NERC warned that weak remittance levels—particularly from international customers—could strain liquidity in the power sector and undermine the sustainability of electricity supply agreements.
