By Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima today launched the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) board in Abuja to tackle the struggling power sector. This step aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and aims to improve electricity supply across Nigeria.
Led by Managing Director Engineer Abdullah Mohamed, NISO is set to bring vital changes. It will focus on boosting the availability, reliability, and quality of electricity for Nigerians. The operator also plans to foster transparency, discipline, and order in the electricity business, ensuring that generation, transmission, distribution, and eligible customers follow market rules and the grid code.
Speaking after the inauguration, Mohamed outlined NISO’s goals. “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,” he said. “In addition to that, we’re supposed to create an atmosphere, an environment of transparency, discipline and orderliness in electricity business in Nigeria.”
He described it as a long-term effort. “Now it’s a journey. It’s not a one-off business. The beginning of the journey starts today,” he explained. “We’ll begin today, and we’re going to hit the ground running. Tomorrow, we’re going to Osogbo, the National Control Centre (NCC), to make sure that our operators are aligned to our vision, mission, objectives, and goals as enshrined in the Electricity Act 2023.”
Mohamed promised collaboration with key players. “Furthermore, we’re going to have interfaces with generation companies, with the Transmission Service Provider (TSP), with the distribution companies, and eligible customers,” he said. These efforts will ensure electricity generation, transmission, and distribution align with rules and benefit Nigerian customers.
He thanked President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his trust in the team. “I would like to use this opportunity to first and foremost thank President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the trust he has in us, in our ability to change the course of this electricity industry,” he said. He also praised Vice President Shettima, Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), for leading a rigorous recruitment process. “They championed this exercise to the point that over a 100 candidates applied for the post of MD of NISO. Through scrutiny, transparency, ruggedness, firmness, focus, we were able to reach this level today,” he added.
Mohamed acknowledged the challenges ahead. “It’s an uphill task. We understand the challenges in the industry, and we’re going to tackle them pragmatically and systematically,” he assured.
“As I said, it’s a journey. We are 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 future.”