Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has stated that the judiciary must rigorously enforce safety regulations in the electricity sector following the loss of 112 Nigerians in 2024 to electrical hazards.
This comes as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) urged the arm of government to safeguard the industry from collapse, noting that wrong judgment may hamper current reforms and investment in the sector.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 National Seminar on Regulations in the Electricity Power Sector for Judicial Officers in Abuja, the stakeholders emphasised the vital role of the judiciary in safeguarding the transformation of the nation’s electricity sector amid sweeping reforms to reshape its regulatory and operational landscape.
Kekere-Ekun said the electricity sector stands at a crucial turning point, adding that decentralised renewable energy, off-grid solutions, and a dual electricity market framework were redefining the industry.
“Our role extends well beyond dispute resolution. We must interpret legislation, uphold constitutional mandates, and ensure justice is administered equitably in a sector undergoing rapid change,” she said.
The CJN underlined that judicial interpretations would increasingly serve as precedents influencing investor confidence, regulatory consistency, and the protection of consumer rights.
She said NERC’s recent report, which recorded 112 electricity-related deaths and 95 injuries in 2024 alone, must lead to the enforcement of safety regulations in the sector.
The chief judicial officer added: “The safety of our citizens must never be treated as incidental. It is a legal and moral imperative.” Also speaking, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, lauded the judiciary’s crucial role in ensuring the success of reforms introduced by the Fifth Alteration to the Constitution and the Electricity Act, 2023.
The amendments devolved electricity powers to state governments, allowing them to regulate generation, transmission, and distribution within their territories.
“The judiciary must be swift and informed in the determination of electricity-related disputes to maintain investor confidence and ensure uninterrupted service delivery,” Fagbemi said.
He described the Electricity Act 2023 as a “transformative milestone” that not only offers significant opportunities but also presents legal complexities requiring careful judicial interpretation.
NERC’s Vice Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, harped on continuous judicial engagement, noting that past judicial pronouncements have significantly impacted the sector’s growth. He explained how ex parte orders and rulings had once paralysed NERC’s regulatory activities and weakened investor confidence.
