By Garba Mohammed
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has inaugurated the Forum of Nigerian Electricity Regulators (FONER) to improve coordination and efficiency in electricity regulation across the country.
The forum was unveiled at a first-quarter 2026 meeting with State Electricity Regulators in Lagos, according to a statement shared by the commission. It is designed to strengthen collaboration between NERC and state regulators, promote unified approaches to tariff setting, market operations, and consumer protection, and support capacity building through peer learning.
NERC Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, described the initiative as a major step toward Nigeria’s transition to a multi-level electricity market. He stressed the need for close cooperation among regulators to prevent loopholes and regulatory arbitrage within the sector.
The forum will also serve as a consultative platform for electricity market reforms, while advancing transparency, accountability, and national regulatory standards.
Key highlights of the meeting included a review of the fourth-quarter 2025 action plan, the signing of the FONER Charter, and the inauguration of its leadership. Oseni will serve as Chairman, alongside Chijioke Okonkwo as Vice Chairman, and Aisha Mahmud as Secretary.
The development comes at a time when Nigeria’s electricity sector is under increasing strain. Persistent gas shortages, financial constraints, and disputes between generation companies and gas suppliers have disrupted fuel supply to power plants, worsening outages nationwide.
With over 70% of Nigeria’s electricity generated from gas-fired plants, ongoing liquidity challenges, foreign exchange pressures, and infrastructure gaps continue to undermine the stability and reliability of power supply.
