• GenCo backs N3.3tn sector debt settlement
One year after its establishment under the Electricity Act 2023, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), yesterday, in Abuja, raised concerns over persistent technical and operational constraints in the national electricity grid.
 
Speaking at a briefing, the Director of NISO, Abdul Bello Muhammed, said the agency has made “deliberate progress” in stabilising the grid, improving market transparency, and strengthening system planning.
 
Muhammed said: “Over the past year, we have laid the foundations for a stronger, more transparent, and coordinated power sector. From establishing governance structures and operational protocols to implementing technical monitoring systems, our efforts have focused on ensuring grid stability, market credibility, and strategic planning.”
 
He emphasised that despite these successes, critical challenges remain.  He said: “Market liquidity constraints, grid infrastructure limitations, compliance gaps, and hurdles in renewable energy integration continue to affect the sector. Addressing these challenges is essential for sustaining system reliability and attracting investor confidence.”
 
Muhammed disclosed Nigeria’s readiness to export electricity, stating that while infrastructure is improving locally, Nigeria must not be left out in regional integration.
 
He said regional integration has also seen progress, with trial synchronisation achieved with the West African Power Pool and support for interconnection projects, including the Nigeria–Benin 330kV transmission project, enhancing opportunities for cross-border power trade.
 
Muhammed noted that deployment of SCADA/EMS systems, improved telemetry across electricity trading points, and expanded application of digital and IoT-based technologies to enhance real-time visibility and operational control of the grid remain some of the achievements of the agency.

MEANWHILE, the First Independent Power Limited has expressed support for the Federal Government’s N3.3 trillion power sector debt settlement, describing the Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme as a key step toward restoring stability and confidence in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
 
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the company said it had joined the programme and executed the necessary settlement agreements.

The Chief Executive Officer of First Independent Power Limited, Seyi Sobogun, confirmed the company’s participation in the settlement agreements.
 
“We confirm our participation in the programme and the execution of the requisite settlement agreements. The progress recorded to date is encouraging and reflects tangible momentum that is beginning to rebuild confidence across the industry”, Sobogun said.
 
Sobogun also highlighted the success of the January 2026 bond issuance, which raised N501 billion and was fully subscribed,” he added.