Nigeria shuts gas flow to Ghana over $180m debt

Adebayo Onanuga

June 21, 2016

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President John Dramani Mahama and Nigeria's oil minister Ibe Kachikwu in October 2015 — President John Dramani Mahama and Nigeria’s oil minister Ibe Kachikwu in October 2015

Nigeria has stopped the flow of gas to Ghana once again over a $180million debt owed the West African Gas Pipeline Company (Wapco).

The company said on Tuesday it had suspended the flow of gas from Nigeria to Ghana over the unpaid bills by the Ghana government.

Ghana’s state power producer Volta River Authority owes Nigeria’s N-Gas around $180 million, while N-Gas in turn owes the Pipeline Company $104 million, Wapco spokeswoman Harriet Wereko-Brobby said.

The gas debt came up in October last year, with Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama promising Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, to pay up the debt by February this year.

But the promise was not kept, leading to the latest development.