FG targets stronger power system reliability through partnerships
The Federal Government has said it is deepening collaboration with development partners to boost system reliability, improve market liquidity and expand renewable energy integration within Nigeria’s power sector.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the maiden Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) Stakeholders’ Engagement, themed “Building a Resilient and Competitive Electricity Market: The Role of NISO.”
Adelabu said the government’s priorities remain centred on building a reliable and secure power system capable of meeting national electricity demand while fostering a competitive market that attracts investment and drives efficiency.
He noted that ongoing efforts include strengthening regulatory alignment between the federal and state governments, expanding transmission infrastructure, improving sector commercialisation and ensuring reliable supply to households and industries.
“System reliability, stability and efficiency cannot be delivered by any single institution. It requires the full cooperation of all market participants,” he said, stressing the importance of compliance, timely information sharing and active stakeholder engagement.
The minister added that enhanced coordination across the value chain generation, transmission, distribution, regulation and state participation is central to the success of ongoing power reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Adelabu described NISO as a crucial institution whose effectiveness will depend on support from power sector operators. The organisation, he said, must function as an impartial and credible system operator capable of maintaining order and discipline in the market.
Managing Director of NISO, Abdu Mohammed, said the power sector is undergoing rapid transformation driven by decentralisation, new state electricity markets, technological advancements and rising investor and consumer expectations.
He stressed that operational discipline, transparency and strict adherence to market rules, grid codes and metering standards form the backbone of a competitive electricity market.
Mohammed said the engagement would address vulnerabilities in grid and market operations, strengthen commercial and institutional collaboration, and reinforce compliance as a non-negotiable requirement.
He noted that despite long-standing structural and governance challenges in the electricity sector, the establishment of NISO signals a renewed commitment to unlocking the industry’s vast potential through professionalism, neutrality and efficiency.
The stakeholders’ meeting marked a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to build a resilient electricity supply system and attract private investment into the power sector.