The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has inaugurated the Forum of Nigerian Electricity Regulators (FONER) in a move aimed at strengthening coordination and improving oversight across the country’s electricity sector.
The forum was unveiled during the first quarter 2026 Regulatory Meeting with State Electricity Regulators held in Lagos, according to a statement issued by the commission. The development comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with widespread power outages driven largely by persistent gas supply constraints.
Speaking at the inauguration, Musiliu Oseni, NERC Chairman, described the initiative as a critical step in Nigeria’s transition to a multi-level electricity market under the Electricity Act 2023. He emphasised the need for closer collaboration between federal and state regulators to prevent regulatory gaps that could be exploited by operators.
Oseni noted that the forum would serve as a platform for dialogue, policy alignment, and peer learning among regulators, while also promoting transparency, accountability, and uniform standards in tariff setting, market operations, and consumer protection.
The meeting also featured the signing of the FONER Charter and the formal inauguration of its leadership, with Oseni serving as chairman, Chijioke Okonkwo of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission as vice chairman, and Aisha Mahmud, a NERC commissioner, as secretary.
The launch of the forum comes against the backdrop of deepening challenges in Nigeria’s power sector. Industry stakeholders point to ongoing financial and contractual disputes between power generation companies and gas suppliers, which have disrupted fuel supply to thermal plants and worsened grid instability.
Nigeria’s electricity generation remains heavily dependent on gas-fired plants, which account for more than 70 per cent of total output. However, liquidity constraints, foreign exchange pressures, and infrastructure vulnerabilities continue to undermine the reliability of supply.
While the new forum is expected to improve regulatory coordination and support ongoing reforms, analysts say its impact will depend on the government’s ability to address the structural issues affecting the sector, particularly funding gaps and gas supply challenges that continue to drive persistent blackouts across the country.
