Nigeria’s electricity transmission landscape is showing signs of a significant turnaround, as the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) reveals it has sharply reduced costly inefficiencies that once drained billions of naira each month.
Marking its first anniversary in Abuja on Wednesday, NISO’s Managing Director, Abdu Bello Mohammed, disclosed that the organisation has cut transmission losses from nearly 10 per cent at inception to 7.05 per cent — a notable improvement already translating into substantial financial savings across the power sector.
According to Mohammed, the situation at the outset was deeply concerning. Transmission losses — essentially electricity generated but not successfully delivered — were alarmingly high, at times approaching double digits. This inefficiency came at a steep price, with monthly losses estimated between ₦5 billion and ₦8 billion.
He explained that tackling this issue became one of NISO’s most urgent priorities upon its establishment. Through targeted operational adjustments and system improvements, the operator has begun to reverse the trend, steadily reducing the scale of losses and easing the financial burden on the sector.
The progress, while still a work in progress, signals a positive shift for Nigeria’s fragile power infrastructure. Lower transmission losses not only improve efficiency but also enhance the overall reliability of electricity supply — a long-standing challenge for households and businesses alike.
As NISO enters its second year, expectations are mounting that continued reforms and technical upgrades will further narrow the gap, potentially saving billions more and strengthening confidence in the country’s power system.
