THE Federal Government of Nigeria has told the international electricity customers-Niger, Togo, and Republic of Benin-to pay up their outstanding $7million debt because “electricity is not charity”.

The chairman, West African Power Pool (WAAP), Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, whom reporters in Abuja accused of playing the big brother with Nigeria’s electricity to the countries, disclosed that Nigeria was also strict with the international customers just as the Nigerians in debt recovery.

Mohammed, who is also the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), recalled that on his assumption of office, the outstanding bills of the international customers were over $100million.

Stressing that Nigeria does not supply any customers electricity for free, he noted that the Federal Government disconnects the international customers just as it does to Nigerians when they owe electricity debts.

The WAAP chairman said that the Federal Government has now restricted its electricity supply to only contracted international customers.

According to him, Nigeria has insisted that the indebted international customers that were disconnected from the grid pay up their debts before they are reconnected.

His words: “It is not because I am the chairman of the West African Power Pool (WAAP) that I will be allowing international customers to cheat Nigeria.

“When I took over as MD TCN, both Benin and Togo were owing Nigeria more than $100 million. The debt now remains $7million.

“Niger is owing less than $2million. In short, we are not leaving them. We disconnect them as we disconnect customers here in Nigeria. Electricity is not charity. We cannot just allow people to consume electricity and leave us like that.

“As at now, we have restricted their supply to only their contracted ones. We are insisting they pay all their outstanding before we reconnect them and we increase the off- take.”

He corrected the impression that electricity across the border is charity, noting that it is a business from which Nigeria makes millions of dollars like any other exported commodity.

Mohammed said that Nigeria has a comparative advantage of electricity generation in Africa.

Blue3k:
Assuming they dam up rivers up north do you believe Nigeria will use military force to stop them? Egypt been angry with Ethiopia over their dam construction. That's because the Egypt is nothing without the nile.

Ngwamankillyou:
Is this a fake news or joke.. Giving electricity to countries having a steady light when darkness has affected your citizens sense of reasons.

Nigerian government both past and present are all idiots, I challenge the minister of darkness the free education nonsense sapien to do the needful and give Nigerians a steady light because in a serious government it's not a rocket science to provide steady electricity to the citizens.

Ngwamankillyou:
Is this a fake news or joke.. Giving electricity to countries having a steady light when darkness has affected your citizens sense of reasons.

Nigerian government both past and present are all idiots, I challenge the minister of darkness the free education nonsense sapien to do the needful and give Nigerians a steady light because in a serious government it's not a rocket science to provide steady electricity to the citizens.

solmusdesigns:


If you check your map very well you would see that river niger flows into nigeria through this countries, and before building kanji and other hydropower dams Nigerian government reached an agreement with neighboring countries for them not to dam or cut river niger water supply and we shall provide part of their electricity needs, so should we be stupid enough to cut their powers, then they cut us from the source of water flow

solmusdesigns:


If you check your map very well you would see that river niger flows into nigeria through this countries, and before building kanji and other hydropower dams Nigerian government reached an agreement with neighboring countries for them not to dam or cut river niger water supply and we shall provide part of their electricity needs, so should we be stupid enough to cut their powers, then they cut us from the source of water flow

Day2logic:

I doubt if the 3 countries combined have the population of some states in Nigeria. I believe population and landmass is part of our problems. To be honest Democracy will hardly work in this country with our differences.

chriskosherbal:
really are you very certain and serious about the bolded ....can you provide evidence sir.

Ttipsy:
light not steady in my hood and u r taking it to Niger Republic

Buhari also wanting to construct rail line to Niger Republic

joke of a xon3

solmusdesigns:



rail line extended from nigerian sea port to landlocked niger means we would control all their imports and export duty fees infact they would turn to our bitch economically and end up paying up for the loan used in constructing the rail

Blue3k:
Assuming they dam up rivers up north do you believe Nigeria will use military force to stop them? Egypt been angry with Ethiopia over their dam construction. That's because the Egypt is nothing without the nile.

SarkinYarki:
Yet we Nigerians that are willing to pay are left without electricity, the last 4 days have been hell in the hands of PHCN ,I can't quantify how much I have spent on generators

SarkinYarki:


Keep fooling yourself , the rail line is being built to conquer Nigeria and populate it with useless Buhari Nigerian kinsmen ..