NISO targets grid reliability, improve power supply across Nigeria
Abdul Mohammed Bello, Managing Director of the newly inaugurated Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), has assured Nigerians that the organisation will focus on delivering improved grid reliability as well quality power supply across the country.
NISO which was inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday, is in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023. In compliance with the Act, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in April 2024 had unbundled the Transmission Company of Nigeria into two entities: the Nigerian Independent System Operator of Nigeria (NISO) and the Transmission Service Provider (TSP), to improve the power sector’s efficiency and grid reliability.
Speaking to journalists after the inauguration, Bello said that the major role of the institution is to drive the needed changes in the nation’s power sector, that will enhance availability, reliability, and quality of supply of electricity to Nigerians.
“In addition to that, we are supposed to create an atmosphere, an environment of transparency, discipline, and orderliness in electricity business in Nigeria, meaning that participants in generation, transmission, distribution, and eligible customers behave in a passionate manner in line with the provisions of the market rules and the grid code.
“The coming on board of the NISO Board of Management will usher these qualities that are required to make the power sector tick, just like other power sectors in bigger jurisdictions. Now it’s a journey. It’s not a one-off business. The beginning of the journey starts today,” he said.
He disclosed the plans to visit the National Control Center, to make sure that operators are aligned with the vision, mission, objectives, and goals as enshrined in the Electricity Act 2023.
Speaking further, Bello said that there were going to be interfaces with generation companies, Transmission Service Provider, distribution companies, and eligible customers, to make sure that the generation of electricity, transmission of electricity, distribution, and utilization of electricity is in line with the rules.
“We understand the challenges in the industry, and we are going to tackle them pragmatically and systematically. We’re going to deal with these problems, like I said, it’s a journey, we’re starting from somewhere, and gradually, definitely with speed and quality, we shall be there to make sure that Nigerians enjoy a steady, reliable electricity supply in the nearest period,” he added.
