NISO Trains System Operators to Strengthen National Grid Reliability

"NISO’s responsibilities as an independent system operator demanded high levels of professionalism, discipline, teamwork, integrity and commitment to safety." Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NISO.

.... Encouraged participants to actively share knowledge and ensure that lessons from the training were translated into improved operational performance across the organisation’s control centres.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has commenced the second phase of its capacity development programme for system operators as part of efforts to strengthen the safety, reliability and stability of Nigeria’s national electricity grid.

Declaring the programme open, NISO Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, said continuous training was critical to equipping system operators with the technical competence and sound judgment required to manage the increasing complexities of the nation’s power system.

Mohammed said NISO’s responsibilities as an independent system operator demanded high levels of professionalism, discipline, teamwork, integrity and commitment to safety.

According to him, the programme was designed to foster a common operational culture anchored on professionalism, neutrality, reliability and continuous improvement.

He urged participants to deepen their knowledge of the Grid Code, describing it as a fundamental standard guiding the responsibilities of system operators.

The NISO boss also encouraged participants to actively share knowledge and ensure that lessons from the training were translated into improved operational performance across the organisation’s control centres.

He assured that NISO would continue to invest in its system operators, noting that modern technologies could only achieve their full potential when supported by competent and well-trained professionals.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, System Operations, Engr. Nafisatu Ali, said system operators played a critical role in independently and transparently monitoring, coordinating and managing the national grid to ensure safe, secure and economical electricity delivery.

She listed their responsibilities to include real-time grid management, coordination of generation and power flows, load allocation, outage management, emergency response and maintenance planning.

Ali stressed that effective coordination was essential to maintaining grid stability, given the interconnected nature of Nigeria’s electricity system.

She urged participants to deepen their understanding of voltage and frequency control, outage management, power-flow monitoring, real-time balancing of generation and load, as well as coordination among control rooms.

She also encouraged them to study system disturbances and near misses as opportunities to strengthen operational knowledge and prevent future incidents.

The Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Babajide Ibironke, said the training must deliver measurable value to both participants and NISO.

He disclosed that participants would be required to share the knowledge acquired with their respective teams in line with the organisation’s knowledge-sharing policy.

The programme is part of NISO’s broader efforts to build the human capacity required to effectively manage Nigeria’s evolving electricity system.