Nigeria Implements Power Supply Cut to Niger Amidst ECOWAS Sanctions
In an unusual turn of events, power supply disruptions have struck various cities in Niger Republic, attributed to the recent coup within the nation.
The coup, which resulted in the overthrow of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum by his own presidential guards, has led to a series of repercussions, including power outages affecting urban centers such as Niamey, Maradi, and Zinder.
Niger, although not accustomed to such widespread power outages, heavily relies on Nigeria as its primary electricity source. Nigelec, Niger’s electricity agency, has confirmed that the interruptions are a direct consequence of Nigeria’s decision to halt its power supply to its neighboring nation.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria, however, has refrained from offering any insights into the situation, declining to comment on the ongoing power disruptions being experienced in Niger.
According to insider information from BBC, the power supply to Niger was abruptly cut on Tuesday following a directive issued by Nigeria’s presidency. The move appears to be aligned with the broader sanctions that have been imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in response to the recent coup. However, it remains unclear whether these sanctions extend to include crucial utilities such as electricity.
The coup itself marked a significant shift in Niger’s political landscape. President Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected, found himself ousted from power by his own presidential guard, headed by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani. The aftermath of the coup has seen the suspension of the constitution and the appointment of Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as the new president.