By Stella Odueme
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has unveiled measures to further strengthen the stability of the National Grid, improve discipline and liquidity in the electricity market, and enhance staff welfare.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, disclosed this during a town hall meeting with staff, where he reviewed the organisation’s achievements and outlined ongoing reforms and management priorities.
Mohammed said the engagement provided an opportunity for management and employees to exchange views openly on the progress and challenges facing the organisation.
He said NISO had continued to invest in systems and infrastructure aimed at improving grid reliability, operational efficiency and real-time monitoring of the power system.
Among the key investments, he listed the construction of ultra-modern National Control Centres in Osogbo, Osun State, and Gwagwalada, FCT, as well as the deployment of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Energy Management System (EMS), Automatic Generation Control (AGC), telemetry and Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring systems.
According to him, the technologies would enhance grid visibility and control while enabling NISO to detect and respond more quickly to emerging challenges on the transmission network.
According to a statement on Friday, he cited the detection of anomalies along the Shagamu–Ikorodu transmission corridor through IoT-based monitoring as an example of the benefits of improved system visibility, adding that investigations into the development were still ongoing.
Mohammed also described NISO’s successful synchronisation test involving Nigeria and 14 other African countries as a major technical milestone that demonstrated progress in regional power-system coordination.
On staff welfare, the NISO boss announced that the organisation’s Conditions of Service had been approved, describing it as an important framework for addressing staff-related issues.
He said employee welfare should not be viewed only in terms of salaries and allowances but should also encompass conducive working conditions, professional development, career progression, recognition, fairness and effective communication.
Mohammed acknowledged concerns relating to workplace relationships, communication and management styles, urging both management and staff to promote an organisational culture where issues could be raised constructively and without intimidation.
On electricity market operations, he said NISO was implementing measures to improve market efficiency, financial sustainability and compliance among market participants.
He noted that recent engagements and public hearings involving electricity distribution companies over outstanding market obligations underscored the need for participants to meet their financial and operational responsibilities.
The MD/CEO stressed that strict adherence to the Grid Code and Market Rules remained essential to building a healthy and sustainable electricity market.
He said accountability and compliance by all participants would be critical to improving market liquidity and strengthening confidence in the electricity sector.
On system planning, Mohammed disclosed that NISO had independently developed a Transmission Expansion Plan, which is being benchmarked against international standards to ensure compliance with global best practices.
He added that the organisation was engaging state electricity markets and regulators to improve coordination and support the emergence of more stable and efficient electricity markets.
Mohammed said the combined reforms were designed to strengthen grid stability, improve market discipline and liquidity, enhance operational efficiency and position NISO as a data-driven, technology-enabled system operator and electricity market administrator.