By Olatunbosun Obafemi
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has officially transferred regulatory control of the electricity market in Nasarawa State to the Nasarawa State Electricity Regulatory Commission (NASERC). The handover was announced in a statement posted by NERC on its official social media platforms on Saturday.
According to the statement, the decision aligns with the provisions of the amended 1999 Constitution and the Electricity Act 2023. The Act permits states to regulate electricity within their borders once they establish a regulatory body and formally notify NERC.
“In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Nasarawa State… to the Nasarawa State Electricity Regulatory Commission,” NERC said.
As part of the transition, Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has been directed to establish a subsidiary – AEDC SubCo – that will handle electricity supply and distribution within Nasarawa. NERC ordered that the subsidiary must be incorporated within 60 days from August 4, 2025, and must obtain a licence from NASERC for its operations.
All processes related to the transfer are expected to be completed by February 3, 2026.
With this move, Nasarawa becomes the latest state to assume control over its intrastate electricity market, joining others including Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, and Niger. These states have also created their own regulatory bodies as allowed under Section 230 of the Electricity Act 2023.
NERC retains control of interstate and international electricity matters, such as transmission, generation, and trading, while states can now oversee local distribution and supply within their jurisdictions.
