From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), has on Monday, promised to collaborate with Gombe State Electricity Regulatory Commission (GOSERC), when it hosted the management at its corporate headquarters, Abuja.
Speaking during the event, NISO’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abdu Mohammed, congratulated members of GOSERC on their appointment and equally commended the Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for appointing individuals worthy to serve in the capacity.
He noted that as a commercial hub in the North East, Gombe State presents interesting opportunities for collaboration, and for that, NISO said its ready to collaborate with the state regulator to develop market frameworks that will ensure improved electricity supply to the state.
According to him, “we appreciate the Governor of Gombe State, who stood out as one of the best during my time as MD of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company. That he was the first in the entire North East to establish a State Electricity Regulatory Commission; that reflects the importance he places on electricity infrastructure.
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“Gombe State is comparatively a hub for commercial activities within the North East. The establishment of the industrial park by the Governor is quite inspiring and warrants increased power supply to the state. What I can assure you is that NISO will support you 100% in exploring how to improve electricity supply in the state. We will collaborate with you to develop a sound business model that will enable the state to access more power”, he said.
Speaking on the GOSERC’s initial progress, Engr. Mohammed, advised the commission to view Sabana, the utility company licenced for power distribution in the state, as a partner rather than a rival. He emphasized that stronger collaboration with the distribution company would translate to improved revenue generation for the state’s electricity market.
Engr. Mohammed added that Gombe State is well-positioned as a key stakeholder in the power sector due to its naturally endowed resources, particularly coal reserves for electricity generation. He further assured GOSERC that NISO stands ready to provide on-the-job training in various aspects of the electricity sector.
Earlier in his remarks, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, who is the Chairman of GOSERC, explained that the meeting aimed to explore collaborative opportunities to enhance electricity supply in the state.
“Gombe State is currently receiving 30MW, whereas, in essence, its energy requirements and required capacity would allow it to receive up to 200MW. The Governor has mandated us to work towards improving power supply in the state, which is why we are here to discuss and exchange ideas on how we can collaborate to achieve this objective. Already, approximately 30 mini-grids are being developed, but we still need to collaborate with NISO to ensure a smooth transition,” he said.
Speaking separately, Engr. Edmond Eje, NISO’s Executive Director, Market Operations, advised the state regulator to ensure that all licenced distribution companies operating in the state, register with NISO as market participants, as they will be interfacing with the national grid.
The Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Mr. Babajide Ibironke, who also spoke during the event, further assured GOSERC that NISO remains committed to maintaining an open-door policy. Stressing that although NISO functions as a quasi-regulator, it remains actively engaged in collaborating with subnational regulators to improve overall electricity supply across the country.
