The Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) has commenced broad stakeholder engagement aimed at shaping a robust regulatory framework for the state’s electricity market.
This forms part of efforts by the Abia State Government to enhance reliable power supply and create an investor-friendly environment in the sector.
The public consultation on draft regulations, held on Thursday in Umuahia, brought together electricity consumers, investors and critical stakeholders to provide input into a working document expected to guide ASERA’s operations and support the objectives of the Abia State Government in the electricity sector.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, said the administration of Governor Alex Otti remains committed to developing a world-class electricity market that serves all residents of the state.
He described the consultation process as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to transparency and inclusiveness in building the state’s electricity framework.
“You know, this event shows the transparency that we are putting together in building the electricity market.
“One of our key targets and one of the directives of His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti is that we build a world-class electricity market that works for our people.
“So we are building a market that everybody will be a key player. And like they say, the customer is the king. So it’s not just the key player, but the customer is a very critical stakeholder”, Engr. Monday stated.
The commissioner commended ASERA for its work in developing the draft regulations, stressing that consumer feedback remains critical to the state’s objective of providing reliable electricity as a catalyst for socio-economic development.
He also disclosed that Aba Power and Geometric Group had deployed over 120,000 electricity meters to households within its operational jurisdiction in the past six months, adding that efforts were underway to replicate similar progress across other local government areas in the state.
In his keynote address, Chairman of the Abia State Electricity Advisory Council, Dr Sam Amadi, said the engagement focused on improving service delivery, strengthening consumer confidence in regulatory decisions and ensuring effective resolution of consumer complaints.
According to him, regulatory credibility and consumer trust remain essential to the success of the emerging electricity market.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority, Mr Emeka Onyegbule, said the consultation was designed to enable consumers and stakeholders contribute to a practical framework that would support the state’s electricity objectives.
“We have gathered to rob minds, and to also open up ourselves to public scrutiny in terms of what we are doing at the authority and what we stand as a people, as customers, to benefit from what we are doing because we know if we stay in our offices we can make these regulations.
“But without getting input from critical partners like you, that regulation may not succeed. So it’s going to be a room, you can call it an incubation room where ideas would be put forward, challenged, and at the end of the day we will be able to have documents that can help us work and achieve the objectives of His Excellency Dr Alex Otti in the power sector”, Onyegbule stated.
He said the process would eventually produce regulations capable of guiding operators, service providers and consumers while creating a transparent and efficient electricity market.
Onyegbule noted that the initiative represented an important step in implementing the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023 and the Abia State Electricity Law 2025, which provide the legal framework for sub-national electricity regulation and market development.
“As a statutory regulator of the state’s electricity market, ASERA is committed to building a transparent, efficient, investor-friendly, and customer-focused electricity sector that is capable of supporting our economic growth aspirations and improved service delivery across the state”, he said.
Contributing, the Lead Consultant on Power at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr Odion Omonfoman, described the establishment of ASERA as a significant milestone for the state’s electricity market.
He said the sustainability of any regulatory framework depends on its ability to withstand public scrutiny and satisfy industry participants.
Omonfoman noted that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum recognised that the success of decentralised electricity markets depended largely on fair, commercially viable and consumer-protective regulations.
He commended ASERA for what he described as swift and transparent implementation of the mandates contained in the Electricity Act and the Abia State Electricity Law.
Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the consultation process would help lay the foundation for a sustainable electricity market capable of supporting economic growth and improving service delivery across Abia State.
