The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has reported that only 15 states i.e Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Oyo, Edo, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Plateau, Abia, Nasarawa, Anambra, and Bayelsa—have fully transitioned to independent electricity market regulation under the Electricity Act 2023, nearly 3years after its enactment. The above mentioned states now handle local market development, investment attraction, tariff setting, and consumer protection via their own regulatory bodies.
In contrast, 21 states including Rivers, Kano, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Osun, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara are yet to assume control, risking delays in benefits like improved power supply, localized tariffs, and off-grid investments.
NERC has further emphasized that the Act’s decentralization empowers states to regulate intrastate generation, transmission, and distribution after legal setup, while it retains oversight of interstate and national grid activities.
The commission hereby urges the remaining states to accelerate transitions to foster private investment, renewables, and service standards, even as some transitioned states still lack full commissions.
