NERC Flags Power Debts as Benin, Togo, Niger Owe Nigeria Over ₦25bn; Ajaokuta Steel Bills Hit ₦1.03bn

By Raymond Akorede

NERC says Benin, Togo and Niger owe Nigeria over ₦25bn for electricity, while Ajaokuta Steel and its host community owe over ₦1.03bn.

Nigeria’s power sector revenue challenges deepened in the third quarter of 2025 as unpaid obligations from both domestic and international customers persisted, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

In its 2025 Third Quarter report, NERC said the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and its host community, classified as a “special customer”—failed to make any payment toward invoices issued for electricity supplied during the period, leaving outstanding bills of more than ₦1.03 billion.

NERC stated that the special customer did not remit payments for the ₦1.03 billion invoice issued by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), as well as ₦0.10 billion invoiced by the Market Operator (MO) for services rendered in the quarter.

“The special customer (Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd and the host community) did not make any payment towards the ₦1.03 billion (NBET) and ₦0.10 billion (MO) invoices received in 2025/Q3,” the Commission said.

NERC described the development as part of a longstanding pattern of non-payment and said it has communicated the need for intervention to relevant Federal Government authorities.

Regional Power Trade: West African Debts

The regulator also disclosed that Nigeria is owed $17.8 million by Benin Republic, Togo, and Niger for electricity supplied under international bilateral arrangements—an amount it described as equivalent to over ₦25 billion at the prevailing exchange rate.

According to NERC, the three international customers collectively paid $7.12 million against invoices of $18.69 million issued by the Market Operator for services rendered in 2025/Q3, translating to a remittance performance of 38.09 per cent.

“The three (3) international bilateral customers… made a payment of $7.12 million against the cumulative invoice of $18.69 million… translating to a remittance performance of 38.09%,” NERC stated.

By comparison, domestic bilateral customers recorded stronger payment performance, remitting ₦3.19 billion out of ₦3.64 billion invoiced during the quarter, representing 87.61 per cent remittance performance.