The Nigerian Government has taken the decision to halt the supply of electricity to the Niger Republic in response to the recent military coup that ousted Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.

Niger’s electricity company, Nigelec, revealed on Wednesday that the decision to cut off power supplies was a result of an emergency meeting held by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), during which sanctions, including freezing utility services, were imposed on the Niger Republic following the coup, as reported by Daily Trust.

According to BBC, the cities of Maradi, Zinder, and Niamey experienced a brief period of power availability for approximately an hour before the electricity was switched off for a duration of up to five hours. Power outages are not common in Niger, which typically enjoys stable and reliable electricity supplies.

It is worth noting that the Niger Republic relies on Nigeria for approximately 70 percent of its electricity supply, which is generated from the Kainji Dam.