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Tag: NISO

  • NNPC’s 350MW Abuja power project vital to achieving 8,500MW – NISO

    NNPC’s 350MW Abuja power project vital to achieving 8,500MW – NISO

    The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has described the ongoing 350MW NNPC’s Abuja Gas Independent Power Project (IPP) as a vital step toward achieving the national target of 8,500MW grid generation capacity by the end of 2026.

    Engr. Abdu Mohammed Bello, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NISO, made the commendation yesterday during an on-site assessment visit to the project location. 

    Leading a high-level management delegation, he evaluated the current stage of construction and identified key areas for enhanced collaboration to accelerate project completion and timely commissioning.

    Read Also: NNPC hails Chevron over successful Awodi-07 Well in Niger Delta

    The visit also included an inspection of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) implementation site at the Gwagwalada transmission substation.

    The team expressed confidence that, before the end of 2026, the full electricity value chain, from generation through transmission to distribution will be integrated into a unified SCADA platform, enabling real-time visibility, improved grid monitoring, and enhanced system reliability and stability.

  • NISO advocates embedded generation for  transmission losses reduction 

    NISO advocates embedded generation for  transmission losses reduction 

    The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has urged stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to use embedded generations and off-grids to reduce transmission losses.

    An embedded generation is an electricity generation plant that bypasses transmission network to supply the consumer while mini-grid is a generation plant that is in maximum of 1,000MW and mostly produced from renewable energy.

    The Mainstream Energy Solutions, Engr. Lamu Audu made the call at the 5th Edition of the Annual Conference of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN) in Abuja.

    He said since the 2023 Electricity Act empowers states to establish sub-national adopt embedded and decentralized energy solutions.

    Lamu, who is also a board member of the NISO, was represented by NISO Managing Director, Abdul Mohammed.

    The theme was “Cost -Reflective Versus Energy Poverty: Finding A Pricing Balance in Nigeria’s Power Sector.”

    He said the tariff design is not merely a mathematical exercise; it is the heartbeat of the power sector.

    Lamu said it determines whether utilities can recover their costs, whether investors can see credible returns, and whether consumers can afford to remain connected.

    Read Also: NISO intervenes in Enugu electricity tariff crisis

    He explained that at its core, the tariff question is about finding the equilibrium between commercial sustainability and social fairness  between ensuring that the operators remain viable and ensuring that no Nigerian is pushed further into energy poverty.

    He added that the “structure of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry reflects this delicate balance. It is a value chain where every segment generation, transmission, and distribution depends on the other for survival.

    PCAN chairman, Mr. Obas Esiedesa said over the years, the conference has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most credible platforms for sectoral dialogue, a space where journalists, policymakers, regulators, operators, investors, and civil society come together to discuss the issues shaping our power industry.

    On the theme, he said it captures one of the most critical policy dilemmas confronting Nigeria today: how to set tariffs that ensure the financial sustainability of the industry without deepening energy poverty among citizens.

    He said the industry is still weighed down by an estimated ₦6 trillion debt owed by the Federal Government to power generation companies, a massive liquidity gap across the value chain, gas supply shortages, aging and weak transmission infrastructure, and rising foreign exchange costs that threaten investments and operations.

  • NISO intervenes in Enugu electricity tariff crisis

    NISO intervenes in Enugu electricity tariff crisis

    The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) on Wednesday waded into the electricity supply crisis in Enugu State.

    The new federal government organisation insisted that fair electricity prices, sustainable business operations must go hand in hand for a stable electricity market.

    He said, “We believe that fair electricity prices, sustainable business operations, and a stable electricity market are not mutually exclusive goals — they are interdependent.

    “Achieving all three requires dialogue, transparency, and coordination among all relevant institutions.”

    Recall that the genesis of the crisis was when the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) issued an electricity tariff order that reduced rates for Band-A customers from N209/kWh set by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to N160/kWh. It also froze the electricity tariff for customers in Bands B to D.

    NERC objected to this and accused EERC of attempting to regulate the wholesale price of electricity, which was outside the EERC’s jurisdiction. Subsequently, MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, the utility licensed by EERC to distribute electricity in Enugu State, reported that supply from its parent company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has dropped by over 50 percent, leading to widespread power outages across the state.

    The Managing Director of NISO, Engr Abdu Mohammed, who spoke at the opening of a stakeholders meeting to resolve the crisis in Abuja, said while it is within the right of the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), NISO has the responsibility of safeguarding the integrity of the electricity supply market.

    Read Also: ANED raises concerns over tariff slash  by Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission

    Mahammed explained that NISO is responsible for both commercial balance in the market and also for ensuring technical stability and operational compliance — both of which may be affected by the current situation.

    “Our objective today is to understand the facts, assumptions, and considerations behind this tariff adjustment; to examine its potential impact on the wider market and existing contractual frameworks; and to explore, together, how we can harmonise state-level regulatory innovation with the commercial discipline and stability required in the wholesale electricity market.

    “We believe that fair electricity prices, sustainable business operations, and a stable electricity market are not mutually exclusive goals — they are interdependent. Achieving all three requires dialogue, transparency, and coordination among all relevant institutions”, he added.

  • BPE charges NISO on 8,500MW generation

    BPE charges NISO on 8,500MW generation

    The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Director General, Ayodeji Gbeleyi, yesterday tasked the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) to increase electricity generation from the present over 5,500MW to 8,500MW in the next one year.

    He made the charged in Abuja, at the Senior Leadership Team Retreat of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).

    His words: “The National Broadcast of Electricity today, said generation resolves around 5500MW. I do hope most sincerely, that when we come back here 12 months from now, that generation capacity, based on efficiency of transmission grid, will be   somewhere around 7500 to 8,500MW.”

    He also informed that the federal government has taken about $500 million loan from the World Bank to finance upgrade of distribution infrastructure network. His, he said, will birth an additional provision of 3.2 million meters for Nigeria.

    Speaking with reporters on the sideline of the retreat, he further explained that the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) currently records a wheeling of 5,500MW daily, while generation capacity is well over 14,000MW.

    Gbeleyi, who insisted the target is achievable, said in near term, the industry can up its capacity in the next 12 to 18 months by at least 50 per cent.

    “Where we stand today, we have about 5,500 MW of power being wheeled on a day-to-day basis.

    “ Compare that with the fact that the total nameplate capacity for generation in the country is a bit above 14,000 MW.

    “So it is not a tall order for us to believe that in the near term, 12 to 18 months, we can scale up capacity, you know, to probably increase that 5,500 by a minimum of 50 per cent,” said the BPE boss.

    Buttressing the realisation of the target, he said since the generation capacity is already in place, if the grid can be strengthened, there are chances that distribution infrastructure can also be scaled up.

    He revealed that already, the Federal Government has secured $500million loan from the World Bank to finance the upgrade of electricity distribution infrastructure.

    Besides, he said the NESI will provide 3.2 million meters within the scope.

    Gbeleyi said, “Because the generation capacity is there, if this grid capacity can be scaled up, and we build in resilience, you know, chances are that with distribution infrastructure also being scaled up.

    “Today, the federal government of Nigeria has taken about $500 million from the World Bank in loan to finance upgrade of distribution infrastructure network. Within that scope, we are going to provide 3.2 million meters for Nigeria.”

    Read Also: FEC holds special tribute session for Buhari Thursday

    The BPE boss added that the Presidential Metering Initiative will provide 2 to 3 million meters to raise the metering record to about 7 million.

    He was hopeful to see significant improvement in terms of electricity access for all Nigerians.

    Meanwhile, the NISO Managing Director, Abdu Mohammed said the 8,500MW target is realisable because of coordination and focus on attracting  investment from the private sector.

    He said in view of what the representative of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), chairman, Sanusi Garba, an engineer, who was represented Commissioner  Dafe Akpneye said, the NISO is capable of achieving the target.

    According to him, NISO expects to see modernization of the grid, resilience, stability and reliability.

    On the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), he said the government has awarded new contracts for the system covering the entire nation.

    According to him, work is in progress all over, across the northern points in the system while contractors are working endlessly, timelessly, tirelessly.

    He revealed that by the end of next year, the SCADA should be set.

    “You see every day progress is being made. We expect that by the end of next year, we should have this SCADA ready,” said the NISO boss.

     Stressing the importance of the grid, the NERC chairman recalled that those who dumped the grid have always quietly returned to it because of its reliability.

    In his goodwill message, the NISO Board Chairman, Dr. Adesesan Akin-Olugbade

    said the occasion marks not only the beginning of a new administrative era but also a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s ongoing journey towards a resilient, transparent and efficient electricity market.

    He recalled that the journey to unbundle the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and establish an independent System Operator, aimed at enhancing efficiency and transparency within the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), began in May 2024, when the NERC issued an order to that effect.

    According to him, the BPE, in compliance with the Order, successfully incorporated the NISO Limited on 29th May 2024, as a private company limited by shares (owned equally by BPE and MOFI), under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

    He said “the evolution of NISO into a neutral system operator (and market operator) reflects our collective commitment to the principles that underpin any well-functioning electricity sector that encompasses reliability, transparency, and neutrality.

    “ These are more than just technical terms and ideals but pillars essential to the confidence of market participants, the fate of investors, and more importantly the trust of the Nigerian people.

    “As an independent entity, NISO now carries the weighty responsibility of managing the national grid with impartiality and integrity.

    “ In doing so, it must guarantee non-discriminatory access, efficient dispatch coordination, and fair market settlement, free from undue influence or conflict of interest.

    “This Board retreat is therefore not merely procedural but strategic. This is the time to set the tone for corporate governance excellence, operational discipline, and visionary leadership. As custodians of the system’s neutrality, you are tasked with creating the frameworks, safeguards, and innovations necessary to enhance reliability, as we look towards having a grid that is more dynamic, resilient and increasingly interconnected with new technologies and energy sources.”

  • BPE charges NISO on 8,500 MW generation

    BPE charges NISO on 8,500 MW generation

    The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Director General, Ayodeji A. Gbeleyi, on Wednesday tasked the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) to increase electricity generation from the present over 5,500MW to 8,500MW in the next one year.

    He made the charge in Abuja, during the Senior Leadership Team Retreat of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).

    He said, “The National Broadcast of Electricity today said generation resolves around 5500MW. I do hope most sincerely that when we come back here 12 months from now, that generation capacity, based on efficiency of the transmission grid, will be   somewhere around 7500 to 8,500MW.”

    Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the retreat, he further explained that he said the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) currently records a wheeling of 5,500MW daily, while generation capacity is well over 14,000MW.

    Gbeleyi, who insisted the target is achievable, said in the near term, the industry can up its capacity in the next 12 to 18 months by at least 50 per cent.

    “Where we stand today, we have about 5,500 MW of power being wheeled on a day-to-day basis.

    “Compare that with the fact that the total nameplate capacity for generation in the country is a bit above 14,000 MW.

    “So it is not a tall order for us to believe that in the near term, 12 to 18 months, we can scale up capacity, you know, to probably increase that 5,500 by a minimum of 50%,” said the BPE boss.

    Buttressing the realisation of the target, he said that since the generation capacity is already in place, if the grid can be strengthened, there are chances that the distribution infrastructure can also be scaled up.

    He revealed that already, the Federal Government has secured a $500million loan from the World Bank to finance the upgrade of electricity distribution infrastructure.

    Besides, he said the NESI will provide 3.2 million meters within the scope.

    Gbeleyi said, “Because the generation capacity is there, if this grid capacity can be scaled up, and we build in resilience, you know, chances are that with distribution infrastructure also being scaled up.

    “Today, the federal government of Nigeria has taken about US$500 million from the World Bank as a loan to finance the upgrade of the distribution infrastructure network. Within that scope, we are going to provide 3.2 million meters for Nigeria.”

    The BPE boss added that the Presidential Metering Initiative will provide 2 to 3 million meters to raise the metering record to about 7 million.

    He was hopeful to see significant improvement in terms of electricity access for all Nigerians.

    Meanwhile, the NISO Managing Director, Abdu Mohammed, said the 8,500MW target is realisable because of coordination and focus on attracting investment from the private sector.

    He said in view of what the representative of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), chairman, Engr. Sanusi Garba, who was represented by Commissioner Dafe Akpneye, said the NISO is capable of achieving the target.

    According to him, NISO expects to see modernisation of the grid, resilience, stability and reliability.

    On the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), he said the government has awarded new contracts for the system covering the entire nation.

    According to him, work is in progress all over, across the northern points in the system, while contractors are working endlessly, timelessly, tirelessly.

    He revealed that by the end of next year, the SCADA should be set.

    “You see, every day progress is being made. We expect that by the end of next year, we should have this SCADA ready,” said the NISO boss.

     Stressing the importance of the grid, the NERC chairman recalled that those who dumped the grid have always quietly returned to it because of its reliability.

    In his goodwill message, the NISO Board Chairman, Dr. Adesesan Akin-Olugbade, said the occasion marks not only the beginning of a new administrative era but also a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s ongoing journey towards a resilient, transparent and efficient electricity market.

    He recalled that the journey to unbundle the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and establish an independent System Operator, aimed at enhancing efficiency and transparency within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), began in May 2024, when the NERC issued an order to that effect.

    According to him, the BPE, in compliance with the Order, successfully incorporated the NISO Limited on 29th May 2024, as a private company limited by shares (owned equally by BPE and MOFI), under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

    He said, “The evolution of NISO into a neutral system operator (and market operator) reflects our collective commitment to the principles that underpin any well-functioning electricity sector that encompasses reliability, transparency, and neutrality.

    Read Also: PTAD, BPE join forces on pension management

    “These are more than just technical terms and ideals, but pillars essential to the confidence of market participants, the fate of investors, and, more importantly, the trust of the Nigerian people.

    “As an independent entity, NISO now carries the weighty responsibility of managing the national grid with impartiality and integrity.

    “In doing so, it must guarantee non-discriminatory access, efficient dispatch coordination, and fair market settlement, free from undue influence or conflict of interest.

    “This Board retreat is therefore not merely procedural but strategic. This is the time to set the tone for corporate governance excellence, operational discipline, and visionary leadership. As custodians of the system’s neutrality, you are tasked with creating the frameworks, safeguards, and innovations necessary to enhance reliability, as we look towards having a grid that is more dynamic, resilient and increasingly interconnected with new technologies and energy sources.”

  • NISO moves to become proactive with digitisation

    NISO moves to become proactive with digitisation

    The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) on Wednesday unveiled its logo, mission, and core values with a vow to become proactive with digitisation and automation initiatives instead of being reactive.

    Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, the Managing Director, Abdu Mohammed, revealed that the organisation has started the digitisation and automation initiative in partnership with global technology leaders, Huawei.

    He said, “We have commenced the Digitisation and Automation Initiative, in partnership with global technology leaders, Huawei.

    “This will give us real-time system visibility, smart data analytics, and modern SCADA/EMS infrastructure. Let me put it simply: this is the kind of progress that turns institutions from reactive to proactive.”

    He said NISO has already started changing the tone by engaging stakeholders with a fresh posture.

    Mohammed said, “Already, the tone is changing. We are engaging stakeholders with a fresh posture. We are no longer an appendage, we are a principal actor, and we now sit at the table with the authority of our mandate and the clarity of our purpose.”

    He revealed the plans to deepen NISO participation with partners as the West African Power Pool, to contribute allies in regional electricity planning.

    He said the organisation has inspected the SCADA/EMS.

    “Our site engagements, especially recently, of the SCDA/EMS project and the level of completion with site inspections of Gwagwalada and Katampe substations reflect a management team that is not content with boardroom assumptions; we go and see for ourselves,” he said.

    Read Also: PMI: Project mgt critical to digitisation, others

    Mohammed said the unveiling was more than just a design to be displayed on NISO’s tangible assets.

    According to him, the ceremony marked a deeper alignment between NISO’s identity, mandate, and moment in Nigeria’s electricity history.

    He said NISO did not emerge from thin air because it was born out of reform mandated by law and driven by a national imperative for transparency, neutrality, and reliability in grid operations and electricity market coordination.

    He recalled that the Electricity Act 2023, which repealed the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) of 2005, did not just change the rules; it changed the structure.

    Mohammed added that in that structure, NERC took a bold and necessary step to ring-fence the ISO functions from TCN and birth a fully independent system operator with a name, a face, and a mission of its own.

    The Managing Director said NISO means that its workforce coordinates the grid with bias, fear or favour.

    His words, “Now, what does it mean to be truly independent?

    It means we coordinate the grid without bias. We make market decisions without fear or favour. It means we plan for the future, not just respond to emergencies.”

    The NISO boss said the means to serve the service providers in the value chain professionally and transparently.

     “It means we exist to serve all participants in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry; DisCos, GenCos, eligible customers and other market participants fairly, professionally and transparently. That is what this new brand stands for,” he said.

  • Tinubu’s reforms of power sector will boost investors’ confidence in Nigeria – NISO MD

    Tinubu’s reforms of power sector will boost investors’ confidence in Nigeria – NISO MD

    Following President Bola Tinubu’s reforms in the Power Sector, Engr. Mohammed Bello, Managing Director of the newly established Nigeria Independent System Operator (NISO), stated on Thursday that the reforms would attract more investors to Nigeria.

    The reforms include the inauguration of the NISO board and management, marking a significant step in the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) into two separate entities.

    During his visit to the National Control Centre (NCC) and TCN in Osogbo, Bello urged staff to embrace transparency and trust in the transition process. 

    He emphasised that the creation of NISO aims to bring about a paradigm shift in service delivery within the country’s electricity supply chain.

    According to him, “We should appreciate President Bola Tinubu for allowing this reform in the power sector to happen. It will create trust and transparency in the system that we have been talking about. 

    “Trust and transparency are the pillars for investors to come from generation, transmission and distribution. Once this is done, you will see investment coming in, people will be confident to bring in their investment into the country.”

    He noted “We have transitioned to a new structure with the establishment of the NISO. This development is not accidental. It is the outcome of years of power sector reforms, backed by strong regulatory guidance and driven by the need to deliver better services to Nigerians.

    “The government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, has made it clear that our role as system operators must now be fully independent, transparent, and neutral. This is not only a policy and regulatory directive but a national expectation. Our duty now goes beyond grid stability, it includes ensuring fairness, equity, and accountability in all aspects of system operation and market administration.”

    Read Also: NISO board critical to electricity delivery, says BPE’s DG

    He said the power sector is undergoing reforms with high expectations, noting that “Nigerians want better electricity services. They want to see that electricity is no longer something they hope for, but something they can count on. And to make that happen, the system operator must function without bias, without compromise, and with full dedication to technical excellence.

    “NISO is now a distinct, independent institution mandated to operate the grid in a transparent, non-discriminatory manner. Our loyalty is to the Grid Code, Market Rules and other extant rules, regulations and orders.

    “Our independence means we’ll be guided by data, professionalism, discipline, and integrity. We are to rebrand, not just rebranding for local outlook. We are building a new institution that will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with global system operators.”

    Earlier in his presentation, the General Manager, NCC, Osogbo, Engr. Biliaminu Ishola said “Nigeria has the capacity to resolve electricity problems through local solutions, but the government need to make the manpower viable, create a conducive environment for innovation within the sector to thrive and many local solutions to power problems would emerge.”

  • NESI gets boost as new NISO MD vows to enforce compliance at national control centre

    NESI gets boost as new NISO MD vows to enforce compliance at national control centre

    The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) received a major boost on Thursday as the newly appointed Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Engr. Abdu Mohammed, announced plans to visit the National Control Centre in Oshogbo today.

    Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Mohammed said the visit is aimed at ensuring that operators align with the vision, mission, objectives, and goals outlined in the Electricity Act (EA 2023). 

    He emphasised his commitment to driving compliance and operational efficiency across the sector.

    “We begin today, and we’re going to set the ground running. We hit the ground running.

    “Tomorrow (Wednesday), we’re going to Oshogbo, the National Control Center, to make sure that our operators are aligned to our vision, mission, objectives, and goals as enshrined in the Electricity Act 2023,” said Mohammed.

    He further revealed his plan to interface with the industry operators for coordination for the production of quality electricity.

    The operators include the electricity Generation Companies (GenCos), electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), Transmission Service Provider (TSP) and the eligible customers.

    He vowed to coordinate the interfaces with the operators in line with the rules in favour of the numerous industry customers.

    The NISO boss said, “Furthermore, we are going to have interfaces with generation companies, with the TSP, Transmission Service Provider, with the distribution companies, and eligible customers.

    “Those interfaces must be coordinated well, managed well, to make sure that the generation of electricity, transmission of electricity, distribution, and utilization of electricity is in line with the rules and is in favor of the numerous Nigerian customers.” 

     He said that the amended EA 2023 made provision for the establishment of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO). 

    He noted that Vice President, Kashim Shettima inaugurated the the NISO on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to him, the management team assumed its job immediately in line with the law.

    He said, “So, going by the law, the NISO has been inaugurated today by His Excellency, the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima.

    “We have been inaugurated this afternoon, and we have assumed the job role as described by the EA 2023.”

    He however explained that the major role of the NISO is to provide the changes the system has been yearning for that will guarantee availability, reliability, and quality power supply to the citizenry.

    Mohammed said the NISO is expected to bring about an environment that is transparent, discipline, and orderly for electricity business in the country.

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    He said the expectation means the participants must behave in accordance with the dictates of the market rules and grid code.

    The Managing Director said, “Our major role in the power industry is to bring the needed changes in the system 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.”

    He pledged that the NISO board of management will usher the aforementioned qualities to make the power sector tick as obtainable in stronger electricity industries.

    He said, “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 is not a one-off business. The beginning of the journey starts today.”

    Recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2025 announced the appointment of the executive and non executive members of the NISO.

  • Shettima inaugurates NISO board, signals new era in power sector reform

    Shettima inaugurates NISO board, signals new era in power sector reform

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday inaugurated the Board of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) Limited at the State House, Abuja, marking a pivotal step in the federal government’s effort to restructure and strengthen Nigeria’s electricity sector in line with the Electricity Act 2023.

    The 11-member board, chaired by legal and financial expert Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, is tasked with overseeing the operational and market independence of NISO, which will now manage critical aspects of Nigeria’s electricity supply chain, including grid stability, system operations, power dispatch, and market coordination.

    Other members of the board include Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed (Managing Director), Engr. Nafisatu Asabe Ali (Executive Director, System Operation), Engr. Shehu Abba-Aliyu (Executive Director, System Planning), Dr. Edmund Eje (Executive Director, Market Operation), and Mr. Babajide Ibironke (Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services). 

    Non-executive directors include Engr. Lamu Audu, Mrs. Folake Soetan, Mr. Tajudeen Giwa-Osagie, Mr. Mahmuda Mamman (Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power), and Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz (MD/CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria).

    Delivering welcome remarks at the ceremony, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, described the event as a “significant milestone in the ongoing reform of the country’s power sector,” stating that it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the vision for “an efficient, reliable, and competitive electricity market.”

    “NISO represents a pivotal landmark in Nigeria’s electricity industry reform journey. It serves as a crucial pillar in Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) by ensuring that the System Operator and Market Operator function independently and transparently, fostering efficiency, as well as boosting investor confidence”, Gbeleyi declared. 

    Providing insights into the rigorous process that led to the board’s formation, Gbeleyi explained that the appointments were guided by Section 30(5) of the Electricity Act 2023, which mandates the creation of an Independent Board Nomination Committee (IBNC) comprised of seasoned professionals.

    “The Bureau sought and obtained the approval of His Excellency, the Vice President and Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), for the constitution of the IBNC. This committee, inaugurated on 1st August 2024, led a transparent, competitive and merit-based process to select the board members”, he said. 

    According to Gbeleyi, the IBNC, which included industry stalwarts like former TCN MD Engr. Akinwunmi Bada and former NBET MD Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi, received over 500 applications after placing advertisements in three national dailies. 

    “Interviews were conducted for 51 shortlisted candidates,” he noted, adding that both executive and non-executive positions underwent thorough vetting, including NERC’s “Fit and Proper Test.”

    “For the non-executive positions, the process adopted was a restrictive selection method predicated on a set of guidelines and merit-based criteria developed in conjunction with NERC.

    “In consultation with key stakeholders, the list of nominees was further screened with due consideration for diversity, Federal Character, and statutory requirements”, he said. 

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    Gbeleyi praised President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their leadership and dedication to reform.

    “Permit me to express our most sincere appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and His Excellency, the Vice President, for their unwavering commitment to the sustained reform of the power sector,” he said.

    He also acknowledged the contributions of the Honourable Minister of Power, NERC, MOFI, TCN, generation and distribution companies, and private sector partners for their support in making the NISO transition a reality.

    To the new board members, Gbeleyi offered a charge of responsibility and national duty: “I congratulate you on your eminently deserved appointments and urge you to serve with diligence, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility. The success of NISO will no doubt play a crucial role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s power sector.”

    With the formal launch of NISO’s leadership, stakeholders say the reforms signal a new era for Nigeria’s power infrastructure — one characterized by transparency, operational independence, and investor confidence.

  • Tinubu appoints board members for NISO

    Tinubu appoints board members for NISO

    In a significant step towards electricity sector reform, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of executive and non-executive board members for the newly established Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).

    A statement issued on Wednesday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Dr. Adesegun Olugbade will serve as Chairman of the NISO board, while Engineer Abdu Mohammed Bello has been appointed Managing Director.

    The President also appointed four Executive Directors: Engineer Nafisatu Asabe Ali will oversee Systems Operation, Engineer Shehu Abba-Aliyu will be responsible for Systems Planning, Dr. Edmund Eje will head Market Operations, and Mr. Babajide Ibironke will lead Finance and Corporate Services.

    For Non-Executive Directors, Engineer Lamu Audu has been appointed to represent Generation, Mrs. Folake Soetan will represent Distribution, and Mr. Tajudeen Giwa-Osagie joins the board as a Market Expert. 

    Engineer Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz will represent Transmission, while Alhaji Mahmuda Mamman, the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Power, will also serve as a board member.

    The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) will oversee the final stages of the recruitment process.

    These appointments align with the Electricity Act of 2023, which mandated the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) into a Transmission System Provider (TSP) and an Independent System Operator (ISO). 

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    The establishment of NISO marks a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing power sector reforms.

    NISO was formally created by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on April 30, 2024. 

    Its ownership structure is equally split between the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).

    The selection process was conducted through a rigorous screening by the Independent Board Nomination Committee (IBNC) in partnership with Phillips Consulting Limited and was approved following a memorandum submitted by Vice President Kashim Shettima.