NISO @1: ENGR ABDUL BELLO ASSURES OF REDUCTION IN TRANSMISSION LOSSES .... Says It's Been A Critical Phase of Institutional Development, Sector-Wide Impact.

"Over the past year, NISO has strengthened governance structures, improved coordination across the electricity value chain, and promoted accountability and professionalism within the sector." Engr Abdul Mohammed Bello, MD/CEO NISO

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) on Wednesday in Abuja, the Federal Capital, celebrated its One Year Anniversary at a well attended event with the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr Abdul Mohammed Bello, highlighting the significant progress in power sector reforms.

Addressing the attendees which included the media, the NISO Managing Director revealed its ambitious targets aimed at improving grid stability, market transparency, and investor confidence.

Established under the Electricity Act 2023, NISO was created out of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN and its responsibilities range from system operations, market administration, system planning, and enforcement of grid and market regulations.

The event which was held at the Corporate Headquarters of NISO in Abuja, Engr. Bello, described the past year as a critical phase of institutional development and sector-wide impact. He noted that the mandate of the organization is central to ensuring a stable grid, a credible electricity market, and coordinated planning for national growth.

"Over the past year, NISO has strengthened governance structures, improved coordination across the electricity value chain, and promoted accountability and professionalism within the sector." Engr Bello stated.

Speaking on its operations, the NISO MD reported positive progress in enhancing grid visibility through the deployment of SCADA/EMS, telemetry systems, and IoT-enabled metering infrastructure, which are expected to enable real-time monitoring and improve market settlements.

He also disclosed ongoing efforts to improve grid stability, including enforcement of Free Governor Mode operations for generating units, enhanced protection coordination, and plans to segment the national grid into operational “islands” to prevent widespread system collapses.

Emphasising efficiency, Bello revealed that transmission losses have reduced from nearly 10 percent to about 7 percent, with a target of lowering losses further to between 5 and 6 percent.

On market development, he said NISO has strengthened compliance with market rules, improved coordination among stakeholders, and upgraded systems to support real-time operations and data-driven decision-making. He added that the operator is also aligning emerging state electricity markets with the national grid.

Engr Abdul Mohammed Bello further reported progress in long-term planning, including the development of Nigeria’s Integrated Resource Plan, transmission expansion strategies, and studies supporting renewable energy integration and battery storage systems.

He also announced the Agency's plans for supergrid investments and the establishment of a centralized data centre to improve system operations, enhance data transparency, and attract investment into transmission infrastructure.

Speaking on addressing generation challenges, Engr. Bello revealed that NISO is working closely with gas suppliers and other stakeholders to resolve supply constraints affecting electricity output.

On regional integration, the NISO helmsman highlighted the successful synchronization of Nigeria’s grid with the West African Power Pool in November 2025, a move expected to boost cross-border electricity trade, enhance grid resilience, and create new revenue opportunities.

Despite these gains, Bello acknowledged ongoing challenges such as market liquidity constraints, infrastructure gaps, and renewable energy integration, noting that targeted reforms and stronger enforcement are underway to address them.

“Our performance will be measured by three key outcomes: a stable national grid, a credible electricity market, and strong investor confidence driven by transparency and accountability,” he said.

The NISO boss emphasised that while a solid foundation has been laid, greater responsibilities lie ahead, calling for sustained collaboration among government, regulators, industry players, and development partners, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

He expressed confidence that ongoing reforms will translate into measurable improvements in electricity supply, stressing that NISO remains committed to building a resilient power sector capable of driving Nigeria’s economic growth.