TheCable

Nigelec, Niger’s electricity company, says Nigeria’s government has cut supply to the neighbouring country, leading to blackouts in major cities.

The electricity company disclosed this in an interview with the BBC after power shortages hit the warring country.

Last week, Niger soldiers announced a coup on national TV that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s democratically-elected president.

The military junta dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions, and closed the nation’s borders.

In response to the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), after an extraordinary session chaired by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, resolved to impose several sanctions on the military junta that toppled the democratic government in Niger.

Part of the sanctions by the regional body was freezing all service transactions, including energy transactions and deals with all financial institutions.

The West African leaders gave Niger’s military junta a week to give up power or face possible military consequences.

Tinubu strongly condemned the coup, saying ECOWAS would not tolerate any anti-democratic acts.

He also assured that the union would do everything to ensure that peace returns to Niger and the region at large.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, three West African nations: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, backed the coup leaders in Niger — a move that threatens regional stability.

The governing military juntas urged ECOWAS against intervening in Niger, claiming that doing so would amount to a “declaration of war” against them as well.

TheCable reported that President Patrice Talon of Benin was deployed by the regional bloc to Niger to assess the situation.

The new military government has now reopened the country’s land borders and airspace.

The group said the borders were opened to Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Libya, and Chad — excluding Benin and Nigeria.

Tensions between Niger and other ECOWAS members remain as the country’s borders with Benin and Nigeria remain closed.

While the electricity situation reportedly followed a “presidential directive”, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) have declined to comment on the matter.