By Nkechi Eze
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 strengthen collaboration with state stakeholders and advance the development of an integrated electricity market in Nigeria.
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 proposed an annual energy planning summit involving NISO and state governments to assess available energy resources, forecast electricity demand and improve coordination in the planning and development of electricity markets across the country.
The NISO chief emphasised the need for harmonised technical standards, effective data sharing and stronger coordination between state electricity markets and the interconnected national grid to ensure the reliable and efficient operation of Nigeria’s evolving electricity system.
Other proposals presented by Mohammed included the development of a national state coordination framework, the institutionalisation of integrated energy planning and the adoption of a phased implementation roadmap to guide collaboration between NISO and state electricity market operators.
He explained that the objective of the proposed framework was not to centralise electricity markets but to ensure that the various state electricity markets operate cohesively within a reliable and well-coordinated national power system.
The proposals align with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, which provides a framework for greater participation by state governments in electricity generation, transmission, distribution and regulation.
The proposed technical working group and other coordination mechanisms are expected to strengthen institutional collaboration, improve energy planning and support the development of a more integrated and efficient electricity market in Nigeria.
