Newly inaugurated NISO Board promises Nigerians reliable , quality electricity supply

...To enforce transparency, discipline, orderliness in conduct of electricity business

By Chris Ochayi

The Managing Director of the newly inaugurated Nigerian Independent System Operator, NISO, Engineer Abdullah Mohamed, has promised to effect needed changes in the system with a view to enhancing availability, reliability, and quality of electricity supply to Nigerians

Engr. Mohammed, who made the promise while speaking with newsmen, shortly after the Board was inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Banquet Hall, State House, Aso Rock Presidential Villa, on Tuesday in Abuja, noted that the NISO management will interface with key stakeholders in the Nigerian power industry to ensure it delivers on its mandate to electricity consumers.

Engr. Mohammed said the Board will hit the ground running, while nothing that, “We understand the challenges in the industry, and we’re going to tackle them pragmatically and systematically.”

According to him, “You recall the passage of the bill that enacted the Electricity Act 2003, as amended, and the provisions therein for the creation of the Nigerian Independent System Operator.

“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 Electricity Act 2023.

“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’re supposed to create 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.

“The coming on board of the NISO Board of Management will usher these qualities that are required to make the power sector thick, just like other power sectors in bigger jurisdictions.

“Now it’s a journey. It’s not a one-off business. The beginning of the journey starts today.

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

“Furthermore, we’re going to have interfaces with Generation Companies, GenCos with the Transmission Service Provider, TSP, with the Distribution Companies, DisCos 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.

“I would like to use this opportunity to first and foremost thank Mr. President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR for the trust he has in us, in our ability to change the course of this electricity industry.

“I would also want to thank the Vice President and the Chairman of the National Council on Privatization, NCP, Kashim Shettima for going through the rigorous of the recruitment exercise.

“They championed this exercise to the point that over a hundred candidates applied for the post of Managing Director of NISO through scrutiny, transparency, ruggedness, firmness, focus, were able to reach this level today, and thank God I have been selected the Managing Director of NISO and inaugurated today. It’s an upheaval task.

“We understand the challenges in the industry, and we’re going to tackle them pragmatically and systematically. We’re going to deal with these problems. Like I said, it’s a journey, we’re starting from somewhere, and gradually, definitely with speed and quality, we shall be there to make sure that Nigerians enjoy a steady, reliable electricity supply in the nearest period.”