Niamey, Niger — The Federal Government of Nigeria has significantly reduced electricity supply to its northern neighbour, the Niger Republic, by 42 per cent — cutting energy exports from 80 megawatts to just 46MW.
The cutback, which follows last year’s regional sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has led to crippling power shortages across Niger, forcing its citizens and businesses to seek alternative energy solutions.
The development was confirmed by Niger’s Energy Minister, Haoua Amadou, in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Amadou revealed that the reduction has led to a drop of 30 to 50 per cent in electricity production across the country, severely affecting daily life, particularly in the capital, Niamey.
“Despite efforts to strengthen local production capacity, Niamey is still subject to controlled power shutdowns,” Amadou said. “Nigeria has since resumed delivering electricity, but only providing 46 megawatts instead of the usual 80 megawatts.”
The crisis follows the July 2023 military coup in Niger, where President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted by members of his own Presidential Guard.
In response, ECOWAS imposed strict sanctions on the junta-led government, including a suspension of financial transactions and a freeze on cross-border services, particularly electricity exports from Nigeria — Niger’s main power supplier.
Although some sanctions, including the energy embargo, have since been lifted, electricity supply has not returned to pre-coup levels. The persistent shortfall has forced Niger’s state-owned power company, Nigelec, to implement widespread power cuts, often lasting several days at a time.
The energy shortage has, however, catalysed a grassroots shift towards renewable energy. With traditional electricity unreliable, many residents in Niamey and other cities are increasingly adopting solar power.
Rooftop solar panels, imported largely from China and priced around 50,000 CFA francs (approximately €75), have become a common sight on homes and small businesses.
“There are no more power cuts here, and there are no bills to pay; everything works on solar energy,” said Elhadj Abdou, a resident of the Lazaret neighbourhood in Niamey.
The panels are now frequently sold on the streets, offering households an independent and consistent power source amid the national crisis.
Nigeria, which generates its electricity primarily from thermal and hydroelectric sources — with natural gas fueling over 29 thermal plants — continues to be the largest energy producer in West Africa.
Despite its own internal power challenges, Nigeria has historically exported electricity to neighbouring countries, including Niger, under bilateral agreements.
While Nigerian officials have yet to comment on the current supply reduction, the strain on cross-border energy trade underscores the lingering consequences of political instability in the region. It also highlights growing interest in decentralized, renewable energy alternatives across the Sahel.
For Nigeriens, the transition to solar power may offer a long-term solution — not just to current blackouts but to the broader vulnerability of relying on external power sources in a politically volatile region.
