The Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, has urged stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to refrain from actions that could undermine the growth and stability of Nigeria’s decentralised electricity market.
Chief Tegbe made the call 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.
Speaking at the event, the Minister emphasized the need for greater collaboration among all players in the power sector, noting that the successful implementation of the Electricity Act depends on seamless coordination between federal and state institutions.
According to him, while the Federal Government retains a strategic leadership role, State Governments now possess expanded responsibilities under the decentralised framework. He added that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) remains responsible for matters within its jurisdiction, while state electricity regulators are emerging to oversee their respective electricity markets.
Tegbe further highlighted the critical roles of other stakeholders, stating that transmission remains a national asset, distribution companies continue to provide electricity to millions of Nigerians, generation companies supply power to the national grid, private investors provide much-needed capital, development partners offer technical assistance, and consumers remain central to every policy and regulatory decision.
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He stressed that the various institutions within the electricity value chain are interdependent and must work together to ensure a stable and investor-friendly market.
“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,” he said.
The Minister warned against institutional competition and regulatory conflicts, urging stakeholders to prioritize alignment, mutual respect, and cooperation.
“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,” he added.
Chief Tegbe reiterated that the Electricity Act was designed to create complementary electricity markets operating within a unified national framework, rather than establishing parallel electricity industries.
He noted that regulatory coherence remains essential to attracting investments and ensuring consumer confidence across the sector.
“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,” the Minister stated.
The workshop brought together policymakers, regulators, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on harmonising legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks necessary to support the ongoing decentralisation of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
