The newly appointed Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator Engr. Abdu-Mohammed

The newly appointed Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Engr Abdu Mohammed, has vowed to improve coordination across Nigeria’s electricity sector, ensuring strict compliance with regulations to deliver more reliable power to consumers.

Speaking shortly after the inauguration of NISO’s board and management in Abuja on Tuesday, Mohammed promised to foster a disciplined, transparent, and orderly environment within the power industry.

“Our key role is to bring about the changes needed in the system to improve the availability, reliability, and quality of electricity for Nigerians,” he told journalists. “We will ensure that operators across the value chain – generation, transmission, distribution, and eligible customers – adhere strictly to market rules and grid codes.”

Mohammed also revealed plans to immediately begin stakeholder engagements, starting with a visit to the National Control Centre in Oshogbo on Wednesday. The visit, he said, is aimed at aligning operators with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, which defines the objectives and responsibilities of NISO.

“We hit the ground running,” he declared. “This visit to the control centre is the first step in ensuring that every player in the electricity chain aligns with our vision, mission, and the goals of the Act.”

The NISO boss stressed that effective coordination of interfaces between generation companies, distribution companies, the Transmission Service Provider (TSP), and eligible customers is critical to improving performance and meeting the expectations of Nigerian electricity users.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who inaugurated the board earlier in the day, had charged members to uphold integrity and professionalism while ensuring a seamless and efficient electricity supply nationwide.

In line with this mandate, Mohammed assured Nigerians that the new management team is committed to reforming system operations and driving compliance across the sector.

He noted that the Electricity Act 2023 paved the way for the establishment of NISO and that the management team assumed their duties immediately after inauguration, in accordance with the law.

“The inauguration marks the beginning of a journey, not a one-off effort,” Mohammed said. “The qualities we are bringing on board are what will make our electricity sector perform at par with global standards.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the composition of NISO’s 11-member board in March 2025, with legal and financial expert Dr Adesegun Akin-Olugbade appointed as chairman. The board has been tasked with overseeing NISO’s operational and market independence, including grid stability, power dispatch, and coordination across Nigeria’s electricity supply chain.