The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has called for stronger collaboration among electricity sector regulators to ensure uniform consumer protection as Nigerian states establish independent electricity markets under the Electricity Act 2023.
The Commission said harmonised regulatory standards are essential to protect electricity consumers, provide certainty for investors and support the successful implementation of Nigeria’s ongoing power sector reforms.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on Consumer Protection and Regulatory Cooperation in Nigeria’s Electricity Sector in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the Electricity Act 2023 has fundamentally transformed the country’s electricity regulatory landscape by empowering states to establish electricity regulatory commissions and oversee intrastate electricity markets.
Bello noted that while decentralisation offers opportunities for innovation, faster decision-making and improved service delivery, it also increases the need for coordination among regulators.
He said agencies such as the FCCPC, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) have distinct but complementary mandates that should be aligned to ensure consumers receive consistent protection regardless of where they live.
“The success of this framework will depend not only on the effectiveness of each regulator, but also on how well we work together,” Bello said, stressing that electricity consumers are primarily concerned with reliable service, fair billing and effective complaint resolution rather than which agency has jurisdiction.
According to him, consumer protection should extend beyond resolving complaints after they arise to preventing harm, identifying risks early and building public confidence in the electricity market.
Bello cited the FCCPC’s 2024 intervention over the planned replacement of obsolete Unistar prepaid meters as an example of effective collaboration between regulatory agencies. The Commission worked with NERC, NEMSA and electricity distribution companies to address concerns that consumers could be forced to pay for replacement meters or face estimated billing and supply disruptions.
Also speaking at the event, NERC’s Assistant Director and Head of Consumer Protection, Anthony Essien, said regulatory convergence had become increasingly important with the emergence of federal, state and regional electricity markets.
Essien warned that differing regulatory standards across states could create uncertainty for investors and market operators, underscoring the need for harmonised rules to strengthen investor confidence and ensure consistent consumer protection nationwide.
The Electricity Act 2023 ended decades of exclusive federal control over Nigeria’s electricity sector by allowing states that meet constitutional and regulatory requirements to establish and regulate their own electricity markets. Several states, including Lagos, Enugu, Anambra and Plateau, have since established electricity regulatory commissions.
The FCCPC maintained that close cooperation among federal and state regulators will be critical to ensuring the reforms deliver improved electricity services while safeguarding the rights of consumers across the country.
