Several cities in Niger are presently facing blackouts as a result of last week’s coup in the West African country.
The power shortages are a consequence of Nigeria cutting off electricity supplies to its northern neighbour, according to Nigelec, Niger’s electricity company.
Recall that the West African trading bloc, ECOWAS, had imposed sanctions on Niger over the regime change but it had not stated if cutting off electricity had been included in the sanction.
On Sunday, West African leaders had at the conclusion of a meeting held in Nigeria, given Niger’s military junta the grace period of a week to give up power or face possible military intervention.
Meanwhile, European countries have begun evacuating their citizens from Niger.
People living in the cities of Niamey, Maradi and Zinder have reported to having power for only about an hour at a time before it is turned off for up to five hours.
In Niger, power cuts like these are unusual as the country normally has regular and reliable electricity.
However, the country is extensively dependent on its wealthier neighbour to the south, Nigeria, to chiefly supply its electricity.
As of the time of filing this report, the Transmission Company of Nigeria has turned down entreaties to comment on the power cuts in Niger but an anonymous source had revealed that the electricity supply to Niger was cut on Tuesday, August 1, following President Tinubu’s orders.
Emissaries from ECOWAS will meet in Niger on Wednesday, August 2 as intervention continues following the coup. The delegation is being led by Nigeria’s former military head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who presided over Niger’s transition from military rule to democracy in 1999.
Nigeria’s most senior Muslim leader, the Sultan of Sokoto,
Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto is also alleged to be part of the team. He is said to wield a considerable influence in Niger (formerly the Sokoto Caliphate), a powerful kingdom before colonial rule.
