Energy Analyst and consultant with the Senate and House of Assembly on Gas, Olabode Sowunmi, shed light on Nigeria’s power supply to Niger Republic, stating that it is based on a legal covenant. In an interview with Arise Television on August 4, Sowunmi discussed the challenges Nigeria faces in its power sector.
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According to Sowunmi, Nigeria’s power supply was not always in such dire straits, but the lack of infrastructure development throughout the 80s and 90s contributed to the current situation. He revealed that Nigeria has a legal covenant relationship with Niger Republic for electricity provision, stemming from the days when a significant portion of Nigeria’s electricity was generated through the Kainji dam.
Given that the River Niger passes through Niger Republic, Sowunmi explained that an agreement was reached to supply a percentage of the power generated in Nigeria to them. This arrangement was to prevent the Nigeriens from damming the River Niger and building their own hydropower plant, which could affect Nigeria’s water supply for its dams.
During a separate interview on Arise TV on the same day, Aliyu Gebi, National Coordinator of Security Governance Initiative, emphasized the need for bilateral engagements between Nigeria and Niger Republic. Gebi pointed out the close links between the two countries, including location, religion, military expertise, and culture.
He clarified that the electricity given to Niger is not an ECOWAS initiative but a bilateral agreement between the two nations, based on brotherhood and solidarity. The power supply aims to support Niger so they don’t need to dam the River Niger.
Gebi emphasized that Nigeria’s decision to cut off electricity supply to Niger was not made by ECOWAS but by Nigeria itself, in response to the recent coup plot that led to the ousting of Niger’s president by the Military.
As the power situation continues to be a pressing concern, understanding the legal covenants and bilateral agreements between Nigeria and Niger Republic becomes crucial in addressing the challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.
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