By Anita Dennis
Nigeria’s power sector is entering a critical phase of transformation as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approves the reconstitution of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Board, following Senate confirmation of its members on December 16.
The development comes amid sweeping reforms aimed at stabilising the electricity market, attracting investment, and ensuring reliable power supply across the nation.
According to a statement by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, leading the reconstituted board is Dr Mulisiu Olalekan Oseni, whose appointment as Chairman took effect from 1 December 2025. Dr Oseni has served as Commissioner since January 2017 and was subsequently Vice Chairman. His tenure as Chairman will run until the completion of his ten-year term, as provided under the Electricity Act, 2023. Dr Yusuf Ali, appointed Vice Chairman, brings experience as a Commissioner since February 2022 and will serve for the remainder of his first term.
In the statement, other members of the board include Mr Nathan Rogers Shatti and Mr Dafe Akpeneye, both serving second terms, Aisha Mahmud Kanti Bello, now in her second term, Dr Chidi Ike, serving his first term, and Dr Fouad Animashaun, an energy economist and former CEO of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, who also begins his first term. The diverse mix of seasoned regulators and new appointees reflects a deliberate balance between experience and fresh perspectives needed to drive sector reform.
President Tinubu has charged the NERC board to consolidate ongoing reforms and ensure the regulatory framework fully aligns with the letter and spirit of the Electricity Act, 2023. This entails enforcing compliance, safeguarding investor confidence, promoting market efficiency, and ensuring electricity supply meets the growing demands of industry and households.
The appointment aligns closely with ongoing developments at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chairs the NDPHC board, emphasised that Nigeria’s power reforms have now moved beyond policy declarations to measurable outcomes. The Electricity Act, he noted, has provided NDPHC with clearer legal authority, stronger institutional footing, and enhanced credibility to compete in an increasingly open and commercially driven energy market.
The Vice President highlighted that NDPHC is transitioning from its traditional role as a government intervention vehicle into a commercially disciplined, market-focused enterprise while continuing to fulfill its national development mandate. “Our focus is on extracting greater value from existing assets, strengthening contracts and market participation, ensuring governance-led commercialisation, managing risks responsibly, and investing in human capital,” he said.
Over the past two decades, NDPHC has played a key role in expanding Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure. The company has added more than 9,000 megavolt-amperes of transformer capacity to the national grid, constructed substations, extended line bays, and laid hundreds of kilometres of transmission lines nationwide. Managing Director Jennifer Adighije emphasised that the company’s interventions go beyond generation to transmission and distribution, and it is now pursuing a customer-focused strategy while deepening partnerships with bilateral and regional stakeholders under the West African Power Pool.
Adighije also revealed that NDPHC, with approval from President Tinubu and Honourable Minister of Power, has approached the bond market under the power sector refinancing plan. The initiative is designed to offset government debts to generation companies, unlock liquidity, and stabilise electricity supply. “This initiative will be a game-changer for the sector,” she said.
Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Honourable Minister of Power, lauded NDPHC as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s electricity architecture. He highlighted the restoration of 345 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity, including 120MW from Omotosho NIPP, 112.5MW from Benin NIPP, and 112.5MW from Ihovbor NIPP. He also cited the Light Up Nigeria project as a strategic intervention aimed at powering industrial clusters and supporting economic growth.
Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), commended NDPHC’s leadership and the company’s contributions to improving electricity access. He highlighted that sustainable power supply is central to industrialization and economic development, and commended the Vice President’s guidance of the board.
The reconstituted NERC board is expected to work in synergy with NDPHC and other sector players to enforce regulations, foster market confidence, and support private-sector participation. The combination of regulatory oversight, commercialised operations, and infrastructure development positions Nigeria to move from decades of policy stagnation to tangible progress in electricity access, reliability, and investment.
With the strategic leadership of both NERC and NDPHC, Nigeria is poised to achieve long-term stability in its electricity market, supporting industrialisation, economic growth, and improved quality of life for citizens. The current phase of reform signals a sector finally transitioning from intervention-driven policies to results-focused, commercially sustainable operations.
