Gladness Gideon
The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to boost Nigeria’s electricity supply to 8,000 megawatts (MW) within the next 12 to 18 months, leveraging improved grid operations under the newly autonomous Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
Speaking at a leadership retreat to inaugurate NISO’s top management in Abuja on Wednesday, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, said the target is achievable through improved transmission and distribution infrastructure, coupled with more efficient grid management.
Although Nigeria has an installed power generation capacity exceeding 14,000MW, daily generation has consistently remained below 5,500MW, largely due to infrastructural challenges and grid constraints.
“It’s not a tall order to believe that within 12 to 18 months, we can increase supply by at least 50%,” Gbeleyi stated.
“The generation capacity already exists—we must now strengthen grid capacity and scale up distribution.”
He noted that the government had secured a $500 million loan from the World Bank to support improvements in the power distribution network, including the deployment of 3.2 million meters. An additional 2 to 3 million meters are expected under a separate presidential initiative aimed at closing Nigeria’s wide metering gap.
Now operating independently from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NISO is tasked with overseeing real-time grid management, long-term system planning, and electricity market coordination.
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Chairman of NISO’s Board, Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, highlighted the critical role the agency will play in national development, stating: “NISO is not just a new institution—it is a new idea. When power fails, industry, healthcare, education, and national security all suffer.”
NISO’s Managing Director, Engr. Abdu Bello, affirmed the 8,000MW target is realistic, contingent on consistent strategic alignment and private sector engagement.
“This retreat is part of building the roadmap to achieve that target. If we stay focused, it is within reach,” he said.
Also speaking at the retreat, Mr. Tajudeen Ahmed, Executive Director of Portfolio Management at the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), pledged full support for NISO, emphasizing the need to empower the operator with the tools and resources required to meet its mandate.
The retreat marks a pivotal step in Nigeria’s efforts to stabilize its electricity supply and build a more resilient and transparent power sector.