FG Targets 8,000MW Electricity Supply Within 18 Months As NISO Takes Charge Of National Grid

The Federal Government has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s electricity output could climb to 8,000 megawatts within the next 12 to 18 months, following reforms that place the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) at the helm of grid management.

Speaking at a leadership retreat for NISO’s top brass in Abuja, Ayodeji Gbeleyi, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), said the country’s installed generation capacity currently stands at over 14,000MW, but actual daily transmission struggles around 5,500MW.

“With the right investments and enhanced grid resilience, it is realistic to project a 50% increase in supply within 12 to 18 months,” Gbeleyi said.

He emphasized that NISO, now unbundled from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), is positioned to operate as a neutral grid manager, responsible for fair market coordination and dispatch.

To support these efforts, the government has secured a $500 million World Bank loan to enhance distribution infrastructure. Under the plan, 3.2 million electricity meters will be rolled out, while an additional 2–3 million meters are expected through a separate presidential initiative.

Chairman of the NISO Board, Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, highlighted the institution’s strategic significance:

“NISO is not just a new institution—it represents a new approach. We’re taking on real-time operations, long-term planning, and market development. When power fails, everything else does—industry, healthcare, education, even national security.”

NISO’s Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Abdu Bello, reinforced the target’s feasibility:

“We must stay focused, get our internal structures right, and attract private sector investment. With strategic planning and dedication, the 8,000MW goal is within reach.”

The retreat marks a major step in Nigeria’s power sector reform agenda, as the government bets on autonomous grid management, improved infrastructure, and private investment to boost electricity delivery to homes and industries nationwide.