NISO, Power Stakeholders Move to Tackle Grid Instability, Frequency Challenges
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has called for stronger collaboration among electricity sector stakeholders to address persistent grid stability challenges, including frequency excursions, voltage-security concerns, generation and transmission constraints and changing demand patterns.
The call was made by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, FNSE, in his opening remarks at a two-day workshop on “Strengthening Grid Stability: A Collaborative Workshop for NESI Stakeholders,” held at the Jebba Power Station and hosted by Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited.
Mohammed said the increasing complexity of Nigeria’s electricity system required coordinated action, operational discipline and strict compliance with technical standards across the entire electricity value chain.
He identified sudden generation or load losses, forecasting and scheduling inaccuracies, fault-induced disturbances, inadequate system inertia and the response characteristics of generating units as some of the factors capable of triggering frequency excursions.
“Grid stability remains the foundation upon which the security, reliability and resilience of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry rest,” Mohammed said.
The NISO boss said the agency’s ongoing compliance monitoring had reinforced the importance of adherence to technical performance standards, including Free Governor Control requirements, stressing that grid stability could not be achieved through isolated technical interventions.
According to him, the industry also requires accurate and timely operational information, adequate frequency and voltage control resources, effective reserve management, strict compliance with the Grid Code and seamless coordination among stakeholders.
Mohammed further stressed the importance of long-term system planning as Nigeria continues to pursue new generation projects, transmission infrastructure and other greenfield investments in the power sector.
He said successful integration of new projects would require careful assessment of transmission adequacy, system strength, operational flexibility, reserve requirements, reliability criteria and projected demand growth.
The NISO chief executive urged participants to use the workshop to move from diagnosis to practical solutions, saying the forum should produce a shared understanding of the major threats to grid stability and establish measurable actions to improve system performance.
“Our objective is clear: to support the development and operation of a grid that is stable, resilient, responsive and capable of sustaining Nigeria’s economic growth and development aspirations,” he said.
He said NISO would continue to deepen collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), generating companies (GenCos), distribution companies (DisCos), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), policymakers and other stakeholders to strengthen the nation’s power system.
Mohammed said the workshop was expected to deliver clear commitments towards improving frequency and voltage control, practical coordination protocols for managing disturbances, stronger alignment between operational requirements and long-term planning, as well as an effective mechanism for monitoring agreed actions.
He urged participants to engage openly, share experiences and challenge existing assumptions where necessary, stressing that the outcome of the workshop should translate into measurable improvements in grid reliability, resilience and operational performance.
The NISO managing director expressed appreciation to Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited for hosting the workshop and called for sustained stakeholder cooperation to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electricity grid.
The workshop brought together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Power, NERC, NISO, TCN, GenCos, DisCos, industry experts and technical professionals.
