NISO explains reduced power allocations to Lagos, Abuja, North

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has clarified recent reductions in electricity allocations to Distribution Companies (DisCos) serving the Lagos, Abuja and northern regions of Nigeria. These cuts were due to multiple transmission line outages that limited the capacity of the national grid, forcing NISO to adjust generation dispatch and power allocations to maintain safety and prevent system disturbance.

The clarification came amid concerns over changes in power allocations to DisCos in various parts of the country. NISO emphasized that while the availability of generation is important, it is equally critical to have adequate transmission capacity and a secure network configuration for power to be effectively delivered to load centres.

Transmission constraints were responsible for the reduced allocations, rather than a shortage of generation. The impact was particularly noticeable in the Lagos axis due to successive outages involving the Olorunsogo-Ayede 330kV Line 1, Benin-Egbin 330kV Line 1 and Benin-Omotosho 330kV Line 1. The Osogbo-Ikeja West circuit was also out of service for an extended period, further reducing the available electricity that could be transferred into the Lagos area.

Similarly, the northern corridor faced transmission failures, including the Shiroro-Mararaba 330kV Line 1 outage that affected Abuja and the northern part of the country. The situation became critical when multiple transmission lines tripped simultaneously, significantly reducing transmission supply to Jos and the North-East. NISO stated that these incidents highlighted the vulnerability and interconnected nature of the national electricity network, emphasizing the importance of not only generation availability but also adequate transmission capacity and a secure network configuration.