By Ireti Asemota.
Uyo, Akwa Ibom – Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, is taking decisive steps to eliminate frequent national grid failures and deliver reliable electricity nationwide.
Speaking on Friday at the inaugural NISO Management Retreat 2025 in Uyo, themed “NISO on the Move,” Adelabu emphasized that the creation of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) marks a bold departure from past practices in the power sector.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Muhammadu Mamman, the minister said:
“Since this administration began, we’ve been doing things differently. The establishment of NISO is a key part of that shift — to stabilize the grid, cut outages, and ensure every Nigerian has access to electricity.”
He hailed the retreat as a platform for NISO to refine its strategies and deliver measurable improvements in grid performance.
NISO’s Milestone: Full Grid Sync with West Africa
NISO Board Chairman Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade praised the agency’s staff for achieving a historic feat: synchronizing Nigeria’s national grid with the West African Power Pool (WAPP).
“Your dedication made the impossible possible,” he told the team. “For four uninterrupted hours, Nigeria’s grid — along with Niger, parts of Benin, and Togo — operated at a single frequency with the rest of West Africa, from Mauritania to Nigeria.”
The breakthrough strengthens regional energy cooperation and positions NISO as a credible leader in Africa’s power sector.
Why Power Remains Unstable Despite Billions Invested
NISO Managing Director Abdul Mohammed addressed a pressing concern: Why hasn’t massive investment translated into steady electricity?
His response was blunt:
“The power sector is extremely capital-intensive. Countries with reliable grids invest heavily every year — far more than Nigeria has committed so far.”
He explained that chronic underfunding, ageing infrastructure, and vandalism have crippled the grid. But NISO’s role, he said, is to bridge the gap by:
- Attracting private-sector capital
- Optimizing current infrastructure
- Enhancing system efficiency
“We’re not just managing the grid — we’re transforming it,” Mohammed declared.
Akwa Ibom Commends NISO’s Focus and Discipline
Representing Governor Umo Eno, Commissioner for Power Iniobong Robson applauded NISO’s early achievements.
“Since its inception, NISO has shown remarkable discipline, clarity of purpose, and results,” he said. “We’re proud to host this retreat and stand ready to support your mission.”
The Road Ahead
With Nigeria suffering over 200 grid collapses in the last decade, the pressure is on NISO to deliver. But with government backing, regional integration, and a growing private-sector role, officials say the era of darkness may finally be ending.
As Minister Adelabu put it:
“Stable power isn’t a promise — it’s our priority.”
