Daniel Adaji
Nigeria has taken another step toward deeper regional power integration following the admission of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) into the West African Power Pool (WAPP), reinforcing the country’s growing role in West Africa’s electricity market.
NISO was formally admitted into WAPP at the 20th Session of the WAPP General Assembly held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Lomé, Togo.
The gathering brought together electricity sector leaders, system operators and policymakers from across the sub-region.
In a statement issued by its management on Wednesday, NISO described the development as “a major milestone in Nigeria’s electricity sector reform and regional power integration efforts.”
According to the statement, “The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has been formally admitted into the West African Power Pool (WAPP), at the 20th Session of the WAPP General Assembly,” marking Nigeria’s expanded participation in regional electricity coordination.
The statement noted that NISO’s participation at the General Assembly was led by its management team under the leadership of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abdu Bello Mohammed, FNSE, “who was present for the inauguration and formal admission proceedings.”
Explaining the significance of the decision, the statement said, “The decision to admit NISO reflects recognition of its mandate as Nigeria’s independent system and market operator, responsible for ensuring reliability, transparency and efficiency in the operation of the national electricity grid and electricity market.”
As a full member of WAPP, NISO is expected to play an active role in strengthening regional cooperation. The statement added that, “As a WAPP member, NISO will contribute to regional grid coordination, information sharing, system planning and the development of a competitive regional electricity market.”
The admission, according to the statement, also aligns with broader regional goals, as it “advances WAPP’s objective of integrating national power systems across the ECOWAS sub-region and strengthens Nigeria’s role in promoting grid stability, cross-border electricity trade and sustainable energy development in West Africa.”
WAPP was established to integrate the power systems of ECOWAS member states into a unified regional electricity market, enabling countries to share resources, improve reliability and reduce the cost of power supply across West Africa.
