Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued the Final Transfer of Regulatory Authority Order to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA), officially empowering ASERA as the statutory regulator of electricity sector activities in Abia State.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ASERA, Mr Emeka Onyegbule, disclosed this on Thursday in Umuahia, stating that the authority to regulate the Abia electricity market took effect from December 24, 2025.
He recalled that the Nigerian Constitution was amended in 2023 to allow states to generate, distribute and transmit electricity within their jurisdictions.
According to Onyegbule, following the constitutional amendment and the establishment of state electricity markets, NERC issued an interim order permitting states to commence the process of setting up their own regulatory institutions.
“That order from NERC was issued on June 24, 2025, with a six-month transition period.
“The transition involved putting the necessary structures in place, appointing the board, and equipping the Authority to carry out the responsibilities previously handled by NERC.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the life of ASERA, as we successfully completed the six-month transition yesterday.
“Effective today, the responsibility to regulate, oversee and manage Abia State’s electricity market rests solely with ASERA and no longer with NERC.
“With this transfer, all activities across the electricity value chain — generation, transmission, distribution and trading — now fall under the direct oversight of ASERA from the effective date of the Transfer Order,” Onyegbule said.
He noted that the development would have far-reaching impacts on the electricity market in the state.
“The creation of ASERA brings regulation closer to the consumers. Customers no longer need to wait for NERC to resolve their complaints.
“It also gives consumers a stronger voice and ensures they are treated fairly.
“This is what ASERA aims to achieve — striking a balance between effective regulation and quality service delivery,” he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the enactment of the Abia State Electricity Law 2025 made the progress in the electricity sub-sector possible.
“The state has formally enacted its own Electricity Law 2025, and as a result, the government established the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA).
“ASERA is saddled with the independent statutory regulation of the Abia electricity market.
“In view of these developments, NERC issued an interim transfer order authorising ASERA to exercise regulatory oversight over the Abia electricity market,” Kanu stated.
He described the achievement as one of the signature accomplishments of the present administration in transforming Abia’s electricity ecosystem.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, said the establishment of the state electricity market is critical to achieving the Abia 25-Year Development Plan and accelerating industrialisation.
Recalling that the journey began on March 17, 2025, following Governor Alex Otti’s assent to the Abia State Electricity Law, Engr. Monday emphasised that electricity remains central to economic growth, investment attraction and improved service delivery.
He added that the new electricity market has been designed to be world-class, investor-friendly and consumer-focused.
He further disclosed that ASERA has been empowered to issue metering and billing licences to encourage private-sector investment in meter deployment, noting that improved metering would ensure fairness by enabling consumers to pay only for electricity consumed.
