Adelabu: NISO Creation is Part of FG’s Plan for Stable Power

Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says the federal government is working to ensure that the country gets adequate and stable power supply.

Adelabu spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, on Friday, during the NISO management maiden retreat 2025. He said that since the commencement of the administration, things have been operating differently.

“The creation of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) itself is something that government is doing differently to ensure grid stabilization, reduction in power outages and ensure that every Nigerian has access to electricity,” he said.

The minister described the retreat as an avenue for NISO to dialogue and ensure they are doing things differently than before, adding “that’s why we are here to support them to ensure that they succeed as an organization and make sure that the country gets adequate and stable power supply.”

In his remarks, Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, chairman of the NISO board, praised the dedication of the staff. He noted that this commitment led to the successful synchronisation of the Nigerian grid with the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

“From the very beginning, NISO has been about people: the men and women who keep the grid stable, who ensure the market runs fairly, and who represent Nigeria with excellence in regional and international cooperation,” he said.

Akin-Olugbade added that this dedication is why NISO is “earning its place as a strong, credible, and forward-looking institution in the Nigerian power sector”.

He explained that through this professionalism, Nigeria’s grid, along with Niger and parts of Benin and Togo, was “synchronised with the rest of West Africa, from Nigeria to Mauritania, operating seamlessly at a single frequency for four uninterrupted hours.”

Also speaking, Abdul Mohammed, managing director (MD) of NISO, explained that the organisation was established to attract private-sector investment and optimise existing investments in the power sector.

“First and foremost, we have to understand that the power business is extremely capital-intensive. If you look at other jurisdictions where they have their power right, find out how much they have spent on an annual basis–a lot of money,” he said.

Mohammed stated that Nigeria has not spent as much as it should to make the grid reliable, which is “why NISO has been created.”

He said the company is supporting the federal government by attracting private-sector participation and is doing everything possible to “optimise the existing investment so there will be improvement going forward”.