The Nigerian Impartial System Operator (NISO) has marked important strides in grid stability and regional synchronisation inside its first 9 months of operation, setting the stage for higher positive factors in 2026, its managing director, Abdu Bello Mohammed, said on Friday.
NISO’s managing director/CEO, Engr Mohammed, delivering the establishment’s inaugural year-end message, mirrored on operational progress regardless of startup hurdles.
He highlighted NISO’s fast progress since its institution in April.
Recall that NISO was launched in April 2025 amid Nigeria’s continual energy sector challenges.
“Collectively, we now have taken the primary significant steps in operationalising our mandate. We recorded early progress in grid operations, strengthened regional cooperation, and commenced deploying trendy instruments to enhance system visibility and coordination,” he said, crediting workers resilience amid a startup atmosphere.
A landmark achievement was Nigeria’s historic real-time synchronization with the West African Energy Pool (WAPP) grid. “For the primary time, Nigeria’s energy system efficiently operated in real-time synchronisation with the broader West African regional grid for 4 uninterrupted hours. This landmark achievement unlocks new alternatives for regional energy commerce, enhances collective vitality safety, and positions Nigeria on the centre of regional electrical energy cooperation,” Mohammed famous.
Based on him, grid stability additionally improved noticeably regardless of ongoing constraints.
“In comparison with earlier years, disturbances have been fewer and extra successfully managed. This enchancment is a direct reflection of the professionalism, vigilance, and dedication of our system operators, improved coordination with market contributors and stakeholders,” he added.
These positive factors included expanded grid visibility by means of digital instruments and superior planning for nationwide improvement.
Mohammed famous that “Constructing a brand new nationwide establishment isn’t straightforward. It requires persistence, adaptability, and a shared sense of objective,” he started, commending workers for demonstrating “professionalism, resilience, and dedication—usually whereas navigating change and uncertainty.”
NISO’s mandate focuses on impartial system operations, grid coordination, and market facilitation—roles beforehand muddled beneath the Transmission Firm of Nigeria (TCN).
In its debut interval, the operator recorded “early progress in grid operations, strengthened regional cooperation, and commenced deploying trendy instruments to enhance system visibility and coordination,” Mohammed said. These included digital initiatives increasing grid monitoring, which he mentioned supported “superior planning processes that assist long-term nationwide improvement.
“A standout achievement was enhanced grid stability.
“Regardless of working beneath acquainted system constraints, the grid skilled a noticeable enchancment in stability throughout the 12 months.
In comparison with earlier years, disturbances have been fewer and extra successfully managed,” the MD famous.
Whereas actual figures weren’t disclosed, he attributed this to “the professionalism, vigilance, and dedication of our system operators, improved coordination with market contributors and stakeholders.”
Trade analysts interpret this as a possible 20-30 per cent drop in outage frequency primarily based on preliminary TCN-NISO transition knowledge, although official metrics await This autumn reporting.
The 12 months’s pinnacle was Nigeria’s first real-time grid synchronisation with the West African Energy Pool (WAPP). “For the primary time, Nigeria’s energy system efficiently operated in real-time synchronisation with the broader West African regional grid for 4 uninterrupted hours,” Mohammed introduced.
This April-November 2025 feat—spanning NISO’s full operational lifecycle—marks a breakthrough for the 14-nation WAPP, which goals for 1,000MW+ cross-border commerce by 2030.
“This landmark achievement unlocks new alternatives for regional energy commerce, enhances collective vitality safety, and positions Nigeria on the centre of regional electrical energy cooperation,” he emphasised.
Beforehand, Nigeria’s grid operated in isolation, limiting imports from neighbours like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire amid home shortfalls averaging 4,000MW day by day technology in opposition to 13,000MW demand.
Past technical wins, NISO mentioned it prioritised human capital. “All year long, precedence was given to workers improvement, welfare, and industrial concord. Progress recorded in coaching, promotions, incentives, welfare assist, and constructive engagement with Labour displays our dedication to equity, transparency, and mutual respect,” Mohammed mentioned.
He assured ongoing dialogue: “The place challenges exist, we stay dedicated to open dialogue, steady enchancment, and shared problem-solving.”
The managing director gratitude prolonged gratitude to key enablers together with the Ministry of Energy, Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (NERC), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ministry of Finance Included (MOFI), NISO’s Board, and improvement companions.
“I sincerely thank Ministry of Energy,, NERC, BPE, MOFI and NISO ‘s board for the contributions to laying the muse of NISO,” he added, crediting their function in a “purposeful transition” by way of “collective effort, collaboration, coordination and professionalism.”
Trying forward, NISO targets consolidation. “As we look forward to 2026, our focus can be on consolidating what we now have began—strengthening operations, constructing capability, enhancing methods, and creating an enabling work atmosphere the place workers can develop professionally and contribute meaningfully to nationwide improvement,” the MD outlined in his speech.
Ambitions embrace a “resilient, versatile, and future-ready grid—one able to supporting elevated renewable vitality integration, driving industrial development, and powering Nigeria’s sustainable financial future.”
With Nigeria’s renewables pipeline at 2,000MW by 2026 (per NERC targets), NISO eyes superior forecasting and suppleness markets.”NISO is not only an establishment; it’s a collective endeavour. The journey forward would require unity, self-discipline, and belief,” Mohammed concluded. “NISO is on the transfer—and this journey should be taken collectively. Collectively, we’re constructing a stronger, smarter, and extra dependable electrical energy sector.”
