ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF POWER (STATE) ARCH.

NUHU
SOMO WYA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 1ST SEMINAR FOR JUDGES ON
REGULATION IN THE ELECTRIC POWER SECTOR.

The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

The Chief Justice of Nigeria and other Justices present;
Fellow Ministers;
Administrator NJI;
Administrator NERC;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure and honour to welcome you to this very crucial
inaugural Seminar for Judges on Regulation in the Electric Power Sector. The
collaboration of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the
National Judicial Institute (NJI) in organizing this seminar is warmly received at
this time when the input of all stakeholders is required to see that Nigeria has an
Electricity Supply Industry that can meet the needs of its citizens.

As you are all aware, NERC was established by virtue of the Electric Power Sector
Reform (ESPR) Act, 2005 to among other things, provide for the licencing and
regulation of the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity;
enforce such matters as performance standards, consumer rights and obligations
and to provide for the determination of tariffs and other related matters. This
became imperative under the Federal Government’s reform programme to
achieve the objectives of the National Electric Power Policy of establishing an
effective regulatory framework, based on an independent regulatory agency in
order to bring about significant improvement in the sector through a more
strategic approach as hitherto existed.

The passing into law of the Act and the establishment of the Commission came at
a time when the Nigerian Electric Power Sector had been plagued by shortages in
electricity production, vandalization, theft of grid equipment and the illegal
tampering with electricity supply equipment resulting in power outages and lack
of supply. The increase in population and growth in per capita energy demand on
the one hand and the fact that available capacity falls short of demand on the
other hand has invariably led to the decrease in access to electricity by Nigerians.
The challenge of increasing access to electricity is one which the Federal
Government is committed to and one which requires the effort of all stakeholders
in order to succeed.

I am therefore delighted that NERC, as the sector regulator has, in collaboration

with the NJI organised this very important seminar to emphasize the role of the
judiciary in the power sector reform and the effective enforcement of regulations,
standards, codes and orders as made by NERC to ensure that the objective of
access to electricity by all Nigerians is achieved.

The Nigerian Judiciary has demonstrated uncommon courage, integrity,

fearlessness and patriotism in the discharge of its responsibilities to the
admiration of all Nigerians and will, no doubt, through its pronouncements give
the much needed impetus for effective implementation of the ESPR Act and
reform in the Power Sector.

I therefore congratulate NERC on this wonderful initiative and pledge the

commitment of the Ministry of Power and the Federal Government of Nigeria to
ensuring that no effort is spared in seeing to fruition, the reforms in this critical
sector which will fast track the nation’s ability to develop as a modern economy
and an industrial nation.

Distinguished guests, I now invite you to listen and participate in this important
exchange of ideas which will no doubt, lay the foundation for the effective
involvement of the judiciary in ensuring the effective enforcement of the EPSR
Act, 2005.

I wish you fruitful deliberations.

Thank you.