Days after a military junta ousted the country’s elected leader, Mohamed Bazoum, Nigeria has cut off electricity supply from the country to serve as deterrent to others.
On Sunday, ECOWAS countries had met in Abuja and gave the military junta a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate the ousted President or be ready to face any action.
Niger’s Electricity Company, Nigelec, stated that the blackout is as a result of Nigeria cutting off power supply to the country. While the Economic and West African Community (ECOWAS) leaders have disclosed that they will be imposing sanctions on Niger, it has not been announced if it includes electricity supplies.
Also read: ‘Pariah’ Niger reopens borders with several neighbours
Niger Republic depends on Nigeria for 70 percent of its electricity supplied to the country from the Kainji Dam.
BBC reported that residents living in the cities of Niamey, Maradi and Zinder had power for about an hour before it was switched off for up to five hours. Power cuts like these are unusual in Niger, which normally has regular and reliable supplies.
An anonymous source told the publication that the supply to Niger was cut on Tuesday, August 1, following a presidential directive.
ECOWAS defence chiefs are currently meeting in Nigeria to discuss a potential military intervention to roll back the coup.
The ruling military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea have warned ECOWAS against any intervention in Niger, insisting that any military action against the new regime would tantamount to a “declaration of war” against them.
However, the ‘dissident’ countries did not send their defence chiefs to the ECOWAS meeting in Abuja.
