NERC Trains Lagos High Court Judges on Nigeria’s Evolving Electricity Market

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has begun a series of regional seminars for judges to deepen judicial understanding of Nigeria’s evolving electricity market, as regulatory oversight expands to state governments.

The first seminar, held in Lagos on Monday, brought together judges of the Lagos State High Court to examine the legal and regulatory changes shaping the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of NERC, Musiliu Oseni, said the Commission had transferred electricity market oversight to 16 states, marking a significant shift towards a decentralised regulatory framework.

He said the seminar was designed to equip judges with a better understanding of the technical and legal complexities of the power sector to support informed adjudication.

“The objective is to ensure that My Lords are familiar with the intricacies and technical nature of the power sector. We look forward to engaging with you and sharing deeper insights into an industry that is critical to Nigeria’s economic development,” Oseni said.

Representing the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, the state’s Solicitor-General, Hameed Oyenuga, described the seminar as an important platform for strengthening collaboration between the judiciary and stakeholders in the electricity sector.

He said a sound understanding of the industry’s regulatory framework would help ensure that judicial decisions support ongoing electricity sector reforms.

Also speaking, Atinuke Ipaye, who represented the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Kazeem Alogba, urged participants to engage actively with resource persons and deepen their knowledge of the changing electricity landscape.

Presentations at the seminar covered legal and regulatory issues surrounding Nigeria’s transition to a decentralised electricity market, as well as tariff regulation under the new framework. Sessions were delivered by NERC Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, and the Commission’s Vice Chairman, Yusuf Ali.

The seminar, themed “Nigeria’s Electricity Market in Transition: Law, Regulation and the Courts,” is the first in a series of regional engagements planned by NERC to strengthen judicial capacity and promote a common understanding of the legal and regulatory framework governing Nigeria’s electricity sector.