By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the electricity sector to address emerging challenges threatening the stability, reliability and resilience of Nigeria’s power grid.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, made the call in his opening remarks at a workshop on “Strengthening Grid Stability: A Collaborative Workshop for NESI Stakeholders,” held at the Jebba Power Station.
Mohammed said the workshop was timely as Nigeria continues to pursue new generation projects, transmission infrastructure and other investments across the power sector.
He stressed that the successful integration of such projects would require careful assessment of transmission adequacy, system strength, operational flexibility, reserve requirements, reliability criteria and future demand growth.
According to him, the stability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) depends not only on effective system operations but also on strong collaboration, operational discipline and a shared commitment among stakeholders across the electricity value chain.
He identified generation and transmission constraints, changing demand patterns, frequency excursions, voltage-security challenges and the increasing diversity of energy resources as some of the complexities confronting the Nigerian power system.
The NISO chief explained that frequency excursions could result from sudden generation or load losses, forecasting and scheduling inaccuracies, fault-induced disturbances, inadequate system inertia and the response characteristics of generating units during system events.
He noted that NISO’s ongoing compliance monitoring activities had further reinforced the importance of adherence to technical performance standards, including Free Governor Control requirements.
Mohammed said addressing the challenges would require more than technical interventions, stressing the need for accurate and timely operational information, adequate frequency and voltage control resources, effective reserve management, strict compliance with the Grid Code and operational discipline.
He also called for practical coordination protocols among NISO, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), generating companies, distribution companies and other stakeholders to ensure effective management of disturbances and improved system security.
He said NISO was committed to deepening collaboration with TCN, GenCos, DisCos, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), policymakers and other NESI stakeholders.
“Our objective is clear: to support the development and operation of a grid that is stable, resilient, responsive and capable of sustaining Nigeria’s economic growth and development aspirations,” he said.
The NISO boss urged participants at the workshop to openly share experiences, challenge existing assumptions where necessary and develop practical solutions capable of strengthening the performance of the power system.
He said the workshop was expected to produce a shared, stakeholder-validated understanding of the major threats to grid stability, measurable commitments to improve frequency and voltage control, stronger coordination protocols and better alignment between operational requirements and long-term system planning.
Mohammed further called for an effective mechanism to monitor agreed actions and ensure that deliberations translate into measurable improvements in grid reliability, resilience and operational performance.
He said strengthening the country’s technical capabilities must go hand in hand with improved collaboration, accountability and strategic foresight to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electricity grid both now and in the future.
The workshop was hosted by Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, operator of the Jebba Hydro Power Plant, and brought together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Power, NERC, NISO, TCN, generating and distribution companies, as well as industry experts and technical professionals.
