By Julius Agadaga, Yenagoa
The Director General of the Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency, Dr. Rosalyn Dressman, said the BYERA (Licensing and Market Entry) Regulations 2026 is designed to attract investment, protect consumers, and establish a credible state electricity market under the Bayelsa State Electricity Law 2025.
Speaking at the stakeholder review forum in Yenagoa, Dr. Dressman explained that the regulations go beyond administrative procedure. “These regulations are a fundamental tool for attracting investment,” she said. “They also protect consumers, regularize the participation of existing operators, and create a credible state electricity market.”
She outlined that the session would cover the rationale for the regulations, their scope, and how they support the growth of Bayelsa’s electricity sector.
According to her, the draft also sets out the institutional support required from government, ministries, departments and agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders to make implementation effective.
She stressed that the framework aims to formalize the operations of current players while creating clear entry pathways for new participants in the market.
Also speaking, Chairman of BYERA, Austin Adigio, said the stakeholders engagement is focused on creating rules that are fair, clear, and suited to current economic realities.
Adigio said the engagement was aimed at ensuring market entry rules protect consumers, promote fair competition, and allow innovation to thrive without imposing unnecessary barriers.
According to him, these provisions will determine whether a young entrepreneur in Yenagoa can launch a product next month and whether foreign investors find Bayelsa’s electricity market viable.
He stressed that the forum was a genuine consultation, not a rubber-stamp exercise, urging stakeholders to critically assess the draft, identify what works, what doesn’t, and highlight any unintended consequences. Input from the session will be recorded, analyzed, and reflected in the final draft before submission for approval.
Adigio concluded by calling for respectful and productive discussions, describing the forum as a rare opportunity to shape regulations that serve both the public and the market.
