Power Minister Urges Collaboration in Electricity Market

Joseph Tegbe, the Minister of Power, addressed participants at a workshop in Abuja on Tuesday, warning stakeholders in the Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI) against actions that could destabilize the country's decentralized electricity market. He stressed the importance of collaboration over competition and urged all institutions to operate within the sector's regulatory framework.

Tegbe noted that the federal government will retain a leadership role in the industry, even as state governments expand their responsibilities. He highlighted that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will continue to regulate areas within its jurisdiction while state electricity regulators emerge.

Tegbe emphasized that the electricity market should not establish parallel industries but should operate complementarily within a national framework. He cautioned investors against conflicts in regulatory rules and urged them to avoid navigating contradictory approval processes, ensuring that consumers do not become casualties of institutional uncertainties.