NISO seeks stronger media partnership to boost transparency, growth in Nigeria’s power sector
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has called for accurate, fact-based journalism to strengthen public confidence and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s power sector.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Abdu Mohammed Bello, made the call during a strategic engagement with energy editors and journalists from print, broadcast and online media organisations in Abuja.
Bello said inaccurate and misleading reports about developments in the electricity industry were creating trust gaps among stakeholders and negatively affecting investor confidence in the sector.
According to him, while some reporting gaps may not be intentional, they often stem from limited understanding of the technical operations and complexities of Nigeria’s power industry.
“Misrepresentation of facts does not only demarket the power sector, it also creates distrust among stakeholders,” he said.
“That is why we consider this engagement with the media very important.”
He explained that the meeting was organised to build a long-term partnership between NISO and the media aimed at improving public understanding of the sector through accurate and data-driven reporting.
According to Bello, the initiative will go beyond a one-time engagement and evolve into a continuous collaboration built on transparency, trust and timely information sharing.
“We want journalists covering the power sector to have direct access to credible information and deeper understanding of industry operations,” he said.
“This partnership is about strengthening public confidence and supporting the growth of the electricity market.”
Bello reaffirmed NISO’s commitment to ensuring efficiency, reliability and transparency in the management of Nigeria’s electricity grid and market operations.
He said the organisation would continue to focus on its core mandate of maintaining system stability while promoting accountability across the power value chain.
The event brought together key stakeholders in the electricity sector, including representatives of distribution companies, transmission operators and other industry players.
One of the major resolutions reached at the meeting was the establishment of a quarterly engagement platform involving NISO, journalists and industry stakeholders to encourage continuous dialogue and improve information flow.
NISO also pledged to respond promptly to media inquiries to support accurate and balanced reporting of the sector.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator was established in 2023 following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, which unbundled the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) into two entities — NISO and the Transmission Service Provider (TSP).
Industry observers say the move is part of broader reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency, transparency and investment across Nigeria’s electricity sector.
