The Director-General of the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency, BYERA, Dr. Rosalyn Dressman, has unveiled a vision to transform Bayelsa from a buyer of electricity to a seller within the next 30 years.
She unveiled the vision on Tuesday in Yenagoa at the Special Edition Roundtable Series organised to commemorate Bayelsa @ 30 by the South South Reawakening Group.
The roundtable, themed “Bayelsa Power Infrastructure and its Value Chain Objectives,” was held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall and brought together government officials, private investors, bankers and the academia to examine the state’s power sector.
Dressman, who was a panelist at the event, said BYERA, which became operational on December 27, 2025, following the Bayelsa Electricity Law 2025, is mandated to build a sustainable, competitive and consumer-protective electricity market for the state.
“We are a small state but we can be that small state with full opportunities, especially in the electricity market. Imagine a 30-year plan that allows us as buyers to sell electricity one day. I can actually imagine it if we work very hard,” she said.
She noted that unlocking the power market goes beyond generation.
“The market is open for us. We are a distinct group of people. The issue does not stop when you produce it, it goes along when you distribute and when you consume,” she stated.
According to her, the regulator’s immediate priority is to guarantee reliable access to electricity for consumers while providing credible data and an Integrated Resource Plan to attract and guide investors.
“We will prepare for the investor because data matters a lot. We will monitor not only because of an investor but because of you and me. We will make sure that infrastructure is running well by giving timely reports and observations. We will maintain cordiality between the generator and the distributor, and between the distributor and the consumer. Without the consumer, there is no business,” she said.
Dressman called on Bayelsans to take ownership of the electrification drive, stressing that power infrastructure must be developed, serviced, replaced and paid for.
“It takes more than just the generator, more than just the distributor, more than the regulator. It takes all of us to make it work,” she added.
Earlier in his opening remarks, host of the Roundtable, Mr. Joseph Ambakederimo, said the Electricity Act 2023 has fundamentally altered how power is generated, distributed and governed in Nigeria.
He said the theme was carefully chosen because electricity remains the catalyst for industrialisation and economic growth.
Ambakederimo noted that for the first time, states have been empowered to shape their own electricity markets, a development that opens the door for innovation and locally-driven solutions.
He said Bayelsa has already taken decisive steps by establishing its regulatory institution, enabling embedded generation, attracting private capital, and supporting renewable and off-grid solutions.
He however warned that decentralisation could lead to fragmentation if not properly coordinated.
“We continue to see overlaps between federal and state jurisdictions especially around transmission and distribution. Capacity constraints at the sub-national level remain a concern,” he said.
He listed Bayelsa’s core power objectives to include achieving reliable 24-hour supply through initiatives such as the acquisition of a 60MW gas turbine, building a viable sub-national power economy, attracting private investment in gas-to-power, and strengthening the entire power value chain.
The Special Edition Roundtable is part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa State, which was created on October 1, 1996.
