By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, has urged regulators and other stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to work collaboratively and avoid regulatory actions capable of disrupting Nigeria’s evolving decentralised electricity market.
The minister gave the charge during the Workshop on Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, held in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Commission of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Tegbe said the success of the electricity sector reforms depends on effective cooperation among the Federal Government, state governments, regulators, electricity operators and investors.
He explained that while the Federal Government retains overall leadership of the sector, state governments now have greater responsibilities under the Electricity Act. He added that NERC continues to regulate matters within its statutory jurisdiction, while state electricity regulatory agencies are gradually taking charge of their respective electricity markets.
According to the minister, the electricity value chain remains interconnected, with transmission serving as a national asset, generation companies supplying power to the grid, distribution companies delivering electricity to millions of consumers, and private investors and development partners supporting the sector’s growth.
He warned that institutional rivalry and conflicting regulatory frameworks could discourage investment and undermine confidence in the industry.
“The Electricity Act did not establish parallel electricity industries. It established complementary electricity markets operating within one national framework,” Tegbe said.
He stressed the need for regulatory coherence to ensure investors, developers and consumers operate in a predictable environment.
“We must ensure collaboration rather than competition between institutions. We must build alignment instead of regulatory conflict. Investors should not encounter conflicting rules, and consumers should not become casualties of institutional uncertainty,” he said.
The statement was signed by the Commission of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Tegbe seeks regulatory harmony to safeguard Nigeria’s decentralised electricity market
