Tinubu’s Govt Makes Another Promise to Nigerians Over Frequent National Grid Collapse

• Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu says Tinubu’s government is introducing sweeping reforms, including NISO, to tackle national grid collapse and deliver reliable electricity.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu is taking decisive steps to end the nation’s long-standing power instability, including frequent grid collapses.

Adelabu spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday while addressing journalists at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) retreat themed “NISO on the Move.” He was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Alhaji Muhammadu Mamman.

According to the minister, the Tinubu administration began implementing new approaches from its earliest days in office — with a major highlight being the establishment of NISO — to ensure improved grid stability and reduced nationwide outages.

He said Nigeria’s persistent grid collapses stem from a mix of ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance, chronic underfunding, and vandalism. These failures have caused widespread blackouts that cripple businesses, hinder productivity, and force households to rely on generators and other costly alternatives.

Adelabu noted that the new reforms reflect the government’s commitment to “doing things differently.”

“Since the commencement of this administration, things have been going on differently. The creation of NISO is something government is doing to ensure grid stabilization, reduction in power outages and improved access to electricity,” he said.

He added that the NISO retreat offered a platform for dialogue, strategy-building, and organisational strengthening to guarantee a more reliable power supply for Nigerians.

NISO’s Major Achievement: Successful WAPP Grid Synchronisation

Chairman of NISO’s Board of Directors, Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, praised the dedication of the agency’s staff, noting that their professionalism led to the successful synchronisation of the Nigerian national grid with the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

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Calling it an unprecedented milestone, the chairman said:

“Nigeria’s grid — together with Niger and parts of Benin and Togo — was synchronised with the rest of West Africa from Nigeria to Mauritania, operating seamlessly at a single frequency for four uninterrupted hours.”

He described the achievement as proof of Nigeria’s growing role in regional power coordination and market stability.

Why Power Supply Remains Unstable — NISO MD Speaks

In his remarks, the Managing Director of NISO, Abdul Mohammed, explained that the Nigerian power sector remains heavily underfunded considering its capital-intensive nature. He noted that despite heavy investments, they still fall far below what is required to stabilise the grid.

“We haven’t spent as much as we should to make the grid reliable. That is why NISO has been created — to complement government efforts by attracting private-sector investment,”
he said.

He added that NISO is working to optimise existing infrastructure while ramping up private participation to deliver consistent improvements going forward.

Akwa Ibom Government Commends NISO

Representing Governor Umo Eno, Commissioner for Power Iniobong Robson lauded NISO’s discipline, clarity of purpose, and achievements so far. He said the state government supports ongoing reforms and believes they will deliver meaningful progress in the power sector.