Shettima Urges NISO To Fix Electricity, National Grid Challenges

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has directed the members of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) Limited’s Board of Directors to maintain the highest standards of integrity and expertise in carrying out their duties of ensuring seamless generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity across Nigeria.

According to him, while expectations are high, members of the Board will need to utilise their collective expertise and individual capabilities to achieve the ambitious goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the nation’s power sector within a short period.

Speaking on Tuesday when he inaugurated the newly constituted Board of Directors of NISO at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, VP Shettima, in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, categorically told members of the board that while the Tinubu administration is resolute about building resilient, transparent and investment-friendly power sector, they must actualise the mandate.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains steadfast in its commitment to building a resilient, transparent, and investment-friendly power sector. The establishment of NISO is a decisive step towards achieving this vision. The government will continue to provide the necessary support to ensure that NISO operates independently and efficiently, in line with global best practices.

“We urge the Board and Management of NISO to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and dedication in carrying out their duties. Your leadership will be instrumental in shaping the future of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, ensuring sustainable development and economic growth,” he declared.

The Vice President emphasised why members of the NISO Board of Directors were appointed, pointing out that it is part of the administration’s “unwavering commitment to reforming and strengthening the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).”

He maintained that NISO, which consists of the System Operator (SO) and Market Operator (MO), has a critical role in “ensuring the stability, reliability, and security of the national grid.”

Senator Shettima noted that President Tinubu’s approval of the NISO Board fulfils the provisions of Section 30(2) of the EA 2023, which stipulates the appointment of a professionally competent and capable leadership team to drive the organisation’s mandate.

“The rigorous and transparent selection process has produced a Board and Management team with the requisite experience, expertise, and leadership qualities to steer NISO towards success,” he added.

On the future of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Vice President said, “While TCN is expected to transfer all assets and liabilities related to market and system operations to NISO, in line with Section 15(2)(b) of the Act, it will retain its transmission service provider license.

“Strategically, TCN will continue to play a pivotal role in the power sector by maintaining responsibility for transmission assets and undertaking functions essential to developing and preserving Nigeria’s power transmission infrastructure.

“This role will be carried out by the terms of its license, as issued by NERC, and the relevant provisions of the Act. In the future, TCN will prioritise enhancing grid infrastructure, strengthening regional interconnections, and facilitating investment in critical transmission upgrades to meet the evolving needs of the electricity market.”

Earlier, the Minister of Power, Chief Adelabu A. Adebayo, said NISO is saddled with the responsibilities of determining “the efficiency and stability of the national grid, the transparency of market operations and ultimately, the quality of service experienced by electricity consumers across the country.”

He further highlighted some of NISO’s key mandates, including “coordinating electricity generation in real time to meet national demand, optimising energy dispatch in a manner that guarantees grid stability and delivers the most cost-efficient outcomes, enforcing market discipline and transparency, ensuring that all market participants operate within clearly defined obligations in the grid code market rules, among others.”

The Minister underscored the relevance of maintaining synergy with key stakeholders, such as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, State Electricity Regulators, Distribution Companies, Generation Companies, and other Market actors.

In his remarks, Engr Sanusi Garba, Chairman of the National Electric Regulatory Commission (NERC), said the Tinubu administration remains steadfast in its commitment to building an efficient power sector.

According to him, “the establishment of NISO is a decisive step towards achieving this administration’s mandate, and it will continue to provide the necessary support to ensure that NISO operates independently and efficiently in line with global-based practices,” he stated.

It should be recalled that President Tinubu appointed board members of NISO in March this year, with Dr Adesegun Olugbade as the board chairman.