The Federal Government of Nigeria has reduced electricity supply to Niger Republic by 42%, cutting it from 80 megawatts to 46 megawatts, according to reports.
This action follows Nigeria’s earlier suspension of electricity exports as part of sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.
Niger’s Energy Minister, Haoua Amadou, revealed the new supply figures in an interview with AFP. “Nigeria has since resumed delivering electricity, but only providing 46 megawatts instead of the usual 80 megawatts,” Amadou said.
She noted that the reduction has triggered a 30 to 50 percent drop in Niger’s electricity production, prompting state-run power company Nigelec to impose planned blackouts that last several days, particularly in the capital, Niamey.
“Despite efforts to strengthen local production capacity, Niamey is still subject to controlled power shutdowns,” Amadou explained.
The ongoing energy crunch has led to a rise in the adoption of alternative energy sources, particularly solar. A Niamey resident, Elhadj Abdou, said, “There are no more power cuts here, and there are no bills to pay; everything works on solar energy.”
Rooftop solar panels, often sold on the street for about 50,000 CFA francs (roughly 75 euros), have become increasingly common as citizens seek reliable power.
Nigeria, which generates most of its electricity from thermal and hydroelectric sources—with natural gas powering over 29 thermal plants—remains a key energy supplier in the region.
Though ECOWAS sanctions have been eased, Nigeria’s electricity supply to its northern neighbor remains significantly lower than pre-coup levels.