Power Minister Caution’s NESI Stakeholders Against Regulatory Conflict, Reiterates NERC’s Relevant Roles

*The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe

By Clement Nwoji

The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, has cautioned the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) stakeholders to desist from indulging in regulatory conflicts and actions targeted at hampering efficient  decentralised electricity market.

He reiterated the indispensable and apex regulatory roles of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in NESI chain.

The minister spoke at the workshop on Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), held  Tuesday.

Chief Tegbe emphatically explained that the Federal Government retains an important leadership role, adding that State Governments now have expanded responsibilities while the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) continues to regulate areas within its jurisdiction; and State regulators emerging to supervise their respective markets.

He further stated that Transmission remains a national asset; Distribution companies continue to serve millions of customers; Generation companies continue to supply energy into the grid; Private investors provide capital; Development partners provide technical support; while Consumers remain at the heart of every decision.

According to him, “None of these institutions exists in isolation. Our success is interconnected. This is why collaboration must become the defining principle of our decentralised electricity market.

“We must ensure collaboration rather than competition between institutions. We must build alignment instead of regulatory conflict. We must practice mutual respect instead of jurisdictional rivalry.

“The Electricity Act did not establish parallel electricity industries. It established complementary electricity markets operating within one national framework.

“Our objective must therefore be regulatory coherence. Investors should not encounter conflicting rules. Developers should not navigate contradictory approval processes.

“Consumers should not become casualties of institutional uncertainty. Market participants should enjoy clarity, predictability and confidence wherever they choose to invest.”