NISO Proposes Technical Working Group with States to Strengthen Electricity Market Integration
Oru Leonard
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, FNSE, has proposed the establishment of a NISO–State Technical Working Group to enhance cooperation between the system operator and state stakeholders in developing an integrated electricity market.
The initiative is aimed at promoting effective coordination between state electricity markets and the national grid in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023.
Mohammed made the proposal on Thursday, October 22, 2026, while delivering a presentation at the National Workshop on the Electricity Act 2023, held at the State House Auditorium, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He also called for the introduction of an annual energy planning summit involving NISO and state governments to evaluate available energy resources, assess electricity infrastructure and forecast future power demand.
The NISO chief emphasised the need for harmonised technical standards, improved data sharing and stronger institutional coordination to ensure that emerging state electricity markets operate efficiently alongside the interconnected national grid.
Other recommendations presented include the development of a national framework for state coordination, the institutionalisation of integrated energy planning and the adoption of a phased roadmap for implementing the proposed measures.
According to Mohammed, the proposed framework is intended to improve collaboration and ensure that electricity markets across the country operate in a coordinated and reliable manner.
He clarified that the objective is not to centralise electricity markets but to establish effective mechanisms that would enable state-level electricity systems to function seamlessly within the broader national power network.
The proposal comes amid efforts to implement the Electricity Act 2023, which provides a framework for greater participation by state governments in the electricity sector and the development of electricity markets across the country.
The proposed technical working group and annual summit are expected to provide platforms for regular engagement, joint planning and the resolution of technical and operational challenges affecting the integration of state electricity markets with the national grid.
