Coup: Nigeria Cuts Off Electricity Supply To Niger Republic

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Nigeria has reportedly cut off electricity supply to neighbouring Niger Republic as part of sanctions against the soldiers who last week executed a coup in the country.

It was gathered that though blackouts are not unusual in Niger Republic, power is only on for roughly an hour at a period for residents of the cities of Niamey, Maradi, and Zinder before being shut off for up to five hours.

The electricity organization of Niger, Nigelec said the current power outage being experienced in the country is a result of Nigeria halting supply to its northern neighbour.

A BBC source also said the supply to Niger was cut on Tuesday following a directive from Nigeria’s presidency.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has however declined to comment on the power cuts in Niger according to Arise TV.

ECOWAS Threaten Sanctions
It would be recalled that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had given coup plotters in Niger Republic a 7-days-ultimatum to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum as the democratically elected President of the country.

The regional body warned the coup plotters to reinstate Bazoum or face stiffer sanctions.

The directive was part of the communique read on Sunday by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray after the Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, which held on Sunday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.

Touray announced that Bazoum remains the legitimate President of Niger Republic recognized by ECOWAS, adding that should the military fail to restore him within the stipulated ultimatum, the regional body would impose land border closures and no-fly zone conditions on the country.

The body threatened to suspend financial transactions, cut off energy, and freeze the assets of Niger Republic if the military fails to release President Bazoum from detention and restore him to power within the given ultimatum.