The Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency (BYERA) has recorded another milestone when it gathered stakeholders to brainstorm on the review of the 2026 Regulations on Licensing and Market Entry Requirements.
The event , which took place at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, drew participants from existing and prospective electricity market operators, relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Others were civil society representatives, legal, technical, financial, and regulatory advisers, to interested members of the public.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of BYERA, Barr Austin Adigio noted that the purpose of the engagement was to ensure the rules governing market entry and operational codes in the electricity market are clear, fit, and fair to all market players by matching current economic realities.
The Chairman, while noting that the regulations are not ends in itself but to protect consumers, ensure fair competition where innovation thrives, emphasizing that poorly designed regulations pose barriers in implementation, one of which is raising prohibitive costs to investors and consumers.
Barr Adigio enjoined participants to make genuine inputs and suggestions on the BYERA’s Regulations Law 2026, which borders on licences requirements, market entry conditions, advertising standards, and compliance timelines.
The Director General of the Agency, Dr Rosalyn Dressman, said the stakeholders meeting was designed to enlighten participants on the agency preparedness to commence Licensing of operators and the need to follow Market Entry Regulations to provide regulatory certainty required to achieve a more credible market operations in Bayelsa State. According to the DG, the move is to create a clear market entry process, support investment, protect consumer, regularise existing operators, establish enforcement tools, and provide practical transition pathway from Federal Era Arrangement to State Level Regulation through institutional support.
Dr Dressman maintained that the Agency is optimistic that BYERA would be positioned to implement the Bayelsa State Electricity Law 2025 in a more practical way, support better electricity access, service delivery, and economic development imperative.
The BYERA focal person called for support from participants and Bayelsa residents especially in the areas of reviewing and vetting the Draft of the Licensing and Market Entry Regulations, 2026 as a blueprint.
Throwing light on the legal aspects and implications of BYERA’s Regulations, 2026, Mr Opuada Ekperi, a legal practitioner identified that the purpose of the Regulation is to make the Bayelsa State Electricity Law a practical regulatory instrument.
The legal practitioner listed Market Entry Architecture to capture the level of involvement by prospective investor to determine whether the operator is issued a licence, permit, registration, certificate, provisional registration, or transitional instrument; Competition, Transparency, and Public Register
He however, called on participants to make their concerns known on relevant sections of the Regulation before accepting the final copy of the document.
Goodwill messages were presented by His Excellency, Gboribiogha John Jonah, former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State; Engr Kharin Komuko, Commissioner for Public Utilities, Bayelsa State; and Engr Oguara I. Oguara, Chairman, Licenced Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN), Bayelsa State Chapter.
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