The Federal Government has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s electricity supply could rise to 8,000 megawatts (MW) within the next 12 to 18 months, citing improved management of the national power grid and renewed investment in critical infrastructure.
Speaking at a leadership retreat for top management of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) in Abuja, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, said that better grid management would unlock significant generation capacity currently underutilized.
Nigeria’s installed generation capacity is slightly above 14,000MW, yet daily average supply has hovered around 5,500MW for years due to grid inefficiencies, transmission bottlenecks, and poor distribution infrastructure. Gbeleyi emphasized that closing this gap is crucial for sustainable economic growth.
“From where we stand today, we are wheeling about 5,500MW daily. But considering our installed capacity, it is realistic to raise this by at least 50% in 18 months,” Gbeleyi stated.
He added that scaling up grid capacity, strengthening resilience, and upgrading distribution networks would play a decisive role. According to him, the government has already secured $500 million from the World Bank to finance distribution infrastructure upgrades, including the provision of 3.2 million meters.
Additionally, a presidential initiative aims to supply another 2 to 3 million meters to consumers to reduce estimated billing and improve revenue collection for DisCos.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator, recently unbundled from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), is now responsible for real-time grid operations, system planning, and electricity market coordination.
Chairman of NISO, Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, stressed the agency’s neutrality, describing it as “a new idea for Nigeria’s power sector.” He said NISO’s independence would ensure efficient dispatch coordination, fair market settlement, and long-term strategic planning.
“When power fails, everything else — industries, healthcare, education, even security — struggles. That’s why this new system operator must be impartial and strategic,” Akin-Olugbade noted.
Managing Director of NISO, Engr. Abdu Bello, assured stakeholders that the 8,000MW target is achievable, provided there is sustained investment and strict adherence to strategic reforms.
“It’s achievable if we remain focused, attract private sector investment, and implement our strategic action plan,” Bello said, adding that the retreat was designed to align NISO’s leadership with its mandate.
Executive Director of Portfolio Management at the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Mr. Tajudeen Ahmed, affirmed that the government, as a shareholder in NISO, would give full support to ensure the new agency delivers on its mandate.
Experts say that achieving 8,000MW in 18 months will require not just improved grid management but also a deliberate push to resolve issues such as gas supply constraints, market liquidity, and infrastructure vandalism.
However, with enhanced coordination between NISO, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), generation companies (GenCos), and distribution companies (DisCos), the power sector