Unpaid Bills: Nigeria Awaits $8.84 Million From Benin, Togo For Electricity Consumption

The report detailed payment remittances from both domestic and international customers following invoices issued by the Market Operator for Q4 2024. It revealed that six international bilateral customers, including power distributors in Benin and Togo, collectively paid only $5.21 million out of a total invoice of $14.05 million, reflecting a payment rate of just 37.08%.

Among the international customers, Paras-SBEE in Benin paid $2.65 million, while Paras-CEET in Benin remitted $1.64 million. Transcorp-SBEE (Ughelli) in Benin paid $1.71 million out of its $3.59 million invoice, and Transcorp-SBEE (Afam 3) paid $0.90 million out of $1.2 million. Meanwhile, Odukpani-CEET in Togo still owes $2.37 million. Notably, only Mainstream-NIGELEC fully paid its $2.60 million invoice.

Domestically, Nigerian bilateral customers paid ₦1.25 million out of a total invoice of ₦1.98 million, achieving a 63.36% remittance rate. Some international customers also made partial payments on outstanding debts from previous quarters, including Paras-CEET ($0.98 million), Paras-SBEE ($0.7 million), and Transcorp-SBEE ($1.3 million).

The Market Operator also received payments from Nigerian customers toward past invoices, including NDPHC-Weewood (₦21.17 million), North South/Star Pipe (₦11 million), Taopex (₦83 million), and Trans-Amadi (₦20.74 million).

However, Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd and its host community failed to make any payments toward their Q4 2024 invoices, which totaled ₦1.27 billion (NBET) and ₦0.11 billion (MO). NERC highlighted that this continues a trend of non-payment and urged government intervention.

Regarding revenue, Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DisCos) generated ₦509.84 billion in Q4 2024, covering 77.44% of the ₦658.40 billion billed to customers. This marked an improvement from Q3 2024, where the collection efficiency was 74.55%, reflecting a 2.89 percentage point increase.