Nigeria has cut its electricity supply to Niger, VOP News learned today from a source close to the management of the Nigerien Electricity Company (Nigelec), in line with the sanctions decided by the West African neighbours of Niger destabilized by a coup.
On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, decided on sanctions against the coupists who toppled President-elect Mohamed Bazoum a week ago.
In addition to a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial transactions with Niger, ECOWAS decreed the freezing of “all service transactions, including energy transactions”.
According to a report by Nigelec – the country’s sole supplier -, in 2022, 70% of Niger’s share of electricity came from purchases from the Nigerian company Mainstream.
Many neighborhoods in the city of Niamey are normally subject to power cuts and Nigeria’s decision will aggravate this situation