News Agency of Nigeria
NISO urges collective effort for resilient electricity sector

NISO urges collective effort for resilient electricity sector

By Nana Hauwa Musa

Mr Abdu Mohammed, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), has urged collective commitment towards building a resilient, sustainable, and fair electricity sector.

Mohammed, also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NISO, said this at a stakeholder’s engagement with NISO Management on Tarriff Adjusment for customers in Enugu State on Wednesday in Abuja.

“We are meeting today in light of the recent order issued by the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission revising the electricity tariff within the state.

“This development, while within the remit of state-level regulatory authority under the Electricity Act 2023 (as amended), has naturally drawn significant attention from different quarters of our industry.

“Notably, we received communication from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company indicating that in reaction to the tariff adjustment, they initiated curtailment of power supply to the state by up to 50 per cent,” he said.

Mohammed said such measure if implemented, could have serious operational implications, particularly at the TCN–DisCo interfaces where power transfer capacity Service Level Agreements (SLA) were managed.

According to him, it has also prompted necessary questions about how such decisions interact with the operations, dispatch, commercial arrangements, and financial equilibrium of the Nigerian electricity supply industry as a whole.

“Our role in convening this discussion was grounded in both our market administration and system operations mandated through the instrumentalities of the Electricity Act 2023, the market rules and the grid code.

“Some of the grid code empowers the market operator to administer the wholesale electricity market, ensure compliance with market rules, and uphold contractual obligations.

“It mandates us to safeguard the financial integrity and orderly operation of the market, requires us to convene consultations when any matter arises that can materially affect market operation or settlement and assigns NISO responsibility for monitoring participants’ compliance with operational obligations.

“This includes dispatch instructions, system reliability, and service level agreements on power transfer capacity at TCN–Disco interfaces,” he said.

Mohammed said NISO was responsible for both commercial balance in the market and also for ensuring technical stability and operational compliance, both of which may be affected by the current situation.

He said the intervention meeting was to ensure that no action disrupted the Nigerian electricity market stability, the integrity of contracts, or operational obligations that guaranteed reliable supply.

“Let me be clear from the outset, NISO approach this discussion with neutrality, respect, and an open mind, we are not here to question the authority of the regulator or the operators.

“We fully recognise the statutory powers of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission to regulate activities within its jurisdiction.

“We equally acknowledge the licence and operational responsibilities of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company in serving its customers,” Mohammed said.

He said that NISO had a distinct statutory role as the administrator of the Nigerian wholesale electricity market and a quasi-regulator of market operations.

“Our mandate obliges us to safeguard the integrity of the market settlement framework, ensure contractual obligations are respected, and maintain the delicate balance.

“That allows every participant from generators to distributors, from regulators to consumers to operate in a financially sustainable and technically reliable environment.

“Our objective today is to understand the facts, assumptions, and considerations behind this tariff adjustment, to examine its potential impact on the wider market.

“Also on existing contractual frameworks, and to explore together how we can harmonise state-level regulatory innovation with the commercial discipline and stability required in the wholesale electricity market.

“We believe that fair electricity prices, sustainable business operations, and a stable electricity market are not mutually exclusive goals, they are interdependent,” Mohammed said.

He said that achieving all the three required dialogue, transparency, and coordination among all relevant institutions.

“I am confident that with the depth of expertise gathered here, our deliberations today will be constructive, respectful, and solutions-oriented.

“At the end of this engagement, we should have a clearer shared understanding and resolutions with pathway that aligns both state-specific priorities and national market sustainability,” the managing director said. (NAN)

Edited by Ese E. Ekama-Williams

Empowering widows: A journey of strength, resilience – DEPOWA President

Empowering widows: A journey of strength, resilience – DEPOWA President

By Mohammad Tijjani

Mrs Oghogho Musa, President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), says the International Widows’ Day celebration is a testament to the strength and resilience of widows, who face numerous challenges with courage and determination.

She stated this at an event to mark the Day with 255 widows, on Saturday in Kaduna.

“As we commemorate the 2025 International Widows’ Day, we take a moment to recognise the quiet warriors, who have faced the challenges of widowhood with courage and dignity.

”These women, who did not choose this path, have shown remarkable strength and resilience in the face of adversity,” she said.

Musa noted that some of the widows have expressed interest in farming and undergo training in Abuja, to learn the skills necessary for profitable farming.

She said the exercise avail them opportunities to acquire knowledge on farm management, business skills, and best practices to successfully run their own farms.

The DEPOWA president said some of the trainees were exposed to fashion and designs, adding that the association was providing financial support to its members to enable them to set up their businesses.

Musa said the association would be providing mentorship and support to help the widows build confidence, develop a positive mindset, and overcome challenges.

“The initiatives are already showing a positive impact, with some of the widows indicating areas where they need assistance and expressing their enthusiasm to learn and grow.

“The support and empowerment of the widows will enable them to break boundaries, build resilience, and create a better future for themselves and their families.

“On a message of hope to the windows; you are not alone, and you are not forgotten. You are strong, capable, and deserving of support and empowerment.

”With the right mindset and support, you can overcome challenges and achieve your goals.
We are here to support you every step of the way,” Musa said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the event featured medical outreach and paper presentations by Amanda George and Amara Ezedinru on Financial Planning, and Emotional Wellbeing and Navigating Family Issues as Widows, respectively. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Katsina Govt. pledges 30% budget to climate resilience

Katsina Govt. pledges 30% budget to climate resilience

By Abigael Joshua

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda on Wednesday pledged to allocate 30 per cent of the state’s annual budget to climate resilience, as part of efforts to establish a Green Investment Fund.

Radda made the pledge at the Katsina State Climate Action and Green Investment Summit in Abuja with the theme, ‘Turning Climate Challenges into Development Opportunities in Katsina State’.

“We will allocate 30 per cent of our annual budget to climate-resilient infrastructure and establish a Green Investment Fund to de-risk projects”.

He added that the state government would also accelerate implementation, with an initial capitalisation of five billion naira and mechanisms to leverage additional private capital.

“Today marks another milestone in the history of the state’s future. I am proud to unveil our blueprint for a sustainable future, which is tagged ‘Katsina State Green Growth Agenda (KAGGA)’.

“KAGGA is a roadmap to harmonise economic progress with ecological preservation. It commits to scaling up drip irrigation, drought-resistant crop varieties, and agroforestry to protect our farmers from climate shocks.

“My administration will enact the Katsina Climate-Related Laws within 12 months to institutionalise accountability and create a stable policy environment for green investments, ” Radda said.

The governor stated that, to combat water scarcity and promote irrigation, the state had constructed 120 solar-powered boreholes across the state, worth N2.4 billion, with an additional 60 currently under construction.

“This means more water for farmers, more food on our tables, and more income for families.

‘We’ve already planted over 100,000 economic trees and are nurturing three million more, spread across schools, institutions, and shelterbelts.

‘We also invested N5.9 billion in rainwater harvesting structures, turning seasonal floods into a year-round blessing for irrigation,” he said.

Radda noted that the state is setting the pace in climate action, not just in Nigeria, but across the global dryland ecosystems.

“We plan to electrify 500 rural communities with solar mini-grids by 2030, bridging the energy access gap that currently affects 60 per cent of our rural population.

‘KAGGA expands our participation in the Great Green Wall Initiative with an ambitious target of 10 million trees planted by 2030. These trees will focus on indigenous species that thrive in our conditions.

“Additionally, we are launching a ‘Waste-to-Wealth’ programme to turn the 500 tons of plastic waste generated daily in our state into eco-friendly products, driven by youth entrepreneurs,’” he explained.

Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment, noted that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat.

“We are witnessing the consequences of climate change today in the form of desert encroachment, extreme heat, flooding, droughts, dwindling agricultural productivity and resultant insecurity in our nation.

‘The Sahel region where Katsina state is located is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

“However, this region is also rich with opportunities that can turn adversity into advantage through strategic climate action and green investments”.

The minister said that the summit signalled Katsina’s readiness not just to adapt to climate change, but to lead with innovation.

“It also presents a unique platform to attract responsible private sector investment that aligns with both environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.

“Our generation has a singular responsibility which is building a greener, more equitable, and climate-resilient Nigeria.

“This cannot be achieved by the Federal Government alone. We need strong, visionary states like Katsina to rise as champions of climate justice and green growth,’” Lawal noted.

Ms Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, in her keynote address, pledged to support the state in its green economy initiatives.

Mohammed, who was represented by Mohamed Fall, UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, said that climate action is a ticket to a cleaner, safer, and better future for all.

“For all of us, not just Katsina state, it is time to shift from climate reliability to climate leadership. From energy scarcity to growing prosperity. A green economy means clean, affordable energy for homes, schools, hospitals, and for all basic services,” she said.

Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, commended the governor for aligning climate action with gender equality to empower women as key agents of change in the green economy.

Eyong, who was represented by Mr Desmond Osemhenjie, Programme Specialist at the agency said that climate mitigation and women’s empowerment are closely linked through initiatives like biogas technology.

“In Katsina state, where over 70 per cent of household energy depends on firewood, this transition can bring significant environmental and health benefits, especially for women and children,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

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