The Federal Government has restated its commitment towards the reduction of power outages and ensuring grip stability to enable Nigerians have access to electricity across the country.
Already, it has initiated and implemented far reaching measures that would ensure improved power supply with the construction of many substations and the implementation of the presidential metering initiatives launched by President Bola Tinubu.
Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power stated this during the maiden retreat of the Nigerian independent System Operator taking place in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, saying that since the commencement of the administration, things have been done differently in the power sector that would ensure power stability in the country.
The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Muhmmadu Mamman said: “The creation of NISO was part of the reform measures to ensure grip stability and reduction of power outages and to ensure that every Nigerian has access to electricity.
“So you can see right from the onset, we are so keen about doing things differently, and that is why the government is so keen on power stability.
“And this maiden of the retreat is for the management of NISO to strategize and make sure that things are being done differently unlike the ways it was done before.”
According to the minister, the creation of NISO is an indication that the Federal Government is doing things differently to ensure power stability , including the building of substations, grip extension and the presidential metering initiative among other programmes.
He said investment in the power sector is capital intensive, which explains why collaboration with the private sector to drive investment was important adding that with the ongoing reforms, Nigeria has already been steadily witnessing a marked improvement in power supply.
In his welcome address, Abdu Bello Mohammed, managing director of NISO, said the commencement of NISO marked “a defining transition in the evolution of Nigeria’s electricity industry,’’ adding that it is entrusted with delicate but vital mission to ensure “the reliability, transparency and efficiency of the national power grid and electricity market.”
He said that the organisation was brought to task during the PENGASSAN strike, “when gas supply fell drastically and generation dropped to critical levels, as well as other disturbance, explaining that “it was the calm and coordinated response of our system operators , engineers and market teams that kept the nation steady.
“Then came November 8th, the day the world watched West Africa move closer to a shared energy future, through strengthened coordination harmonised operations and transparent communication NISO successfully synchronised Nigeria’s grid with the West African Power Pool
“For four uninterrupted hours, power flowed seemingly from Nigeria through Niger, Benin and Togo reaching as far as Mauritania. It was more than a technical exercise. It was a defining moment in Africa’s regional integration. And it was made possible because of your competence, your focus and your belief that Nigeria can lead through excellence not rhetoric.”
He urged the management and staff of NISO to use the retreat as an opportunity to rediscover our shared purpose and renew our individual commitment to excellence to make NISO a true symbol of reliability and institutional excellence in Nigeria’s power sector.
“ We are not merely managing systems, we are managing trust, the trust , the trust of a nation that depends on us to keep the lights on and the markets stable.,’ he said.
In his remarks, Adesugun Akin-Olugbade, chairman, board of directors lauded the achievement of the organisation saying that the the WAPP Synchronization to grid stabilisation were not ends in themselves but were reminders that when NISO acts as one the system stands strong
“Let us move forward with renewed faith in our purpose and confidence in our capacity, let us continue to build an organisation defined by transparency, efficiency, fairness and boldness, the core values that must guide everything we do,’’ he said.
In a goodwill message, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom pledged a conductive business environment that would boost investment in the state adding that efforts are going to privatize the state-owned Ibom power.
Represented by Iniobong Robson, the commissioner of power, the governor said with the availability of gas in the state, it would only be a matter of matter before the state would begin to enjoy power stability across communities.
“We have watched with administration how NISO successfully coordinated the recent synchronization of the Nigerian grid with the West Africa power Pool, an achievement that not only affirms Nigeria’s technical competence but also strengthens the regional energy architecture,’’ he said.
The theme of the management retreat by NISO is ‘NISO on the Move.’
