NERC Issues 194 Electricity Licences in 2025

In 2025, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) issued 194 licences, permits, and certifications in Nigeria's electricity market, marking a 15.5% increase from the 168 approvals in 2024. The approvals encompassed various sectors, including electricity generation, distribution, trading, mini-grids, and metering.

Notably, mini-grid permits accounted for the largest share, with 64 permits issued. Additionally, Meter Service Providers received 43 approvals, Meter Asset Providers received 30, and captive power projects were granted 31 licences.

NERC also issued seven licences for electricity distribution networks, six for off-grid generation, five for embedded generation, and six for trading. The regulator's focus on distributed generation and metering is evident, with mini-grids, captive power, and metering-related permits comprising 168 of the total approvals.

In April 2025, NERC introduced the Mini-Grid Regulations 2026 to enhance electricity access in underserved communities. The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) reported deploying over 200 mini-grids in 2025, while the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a $5.65 million grant for mini-grid projects across 14 African countries.