By Onu Okorie

Nigerian Independent System Operator NISO has attributed recent reductions in electricity allocations to distribution companies serving Lagos, Abuja, and northern parts of the country to multiple transmission line outages rather than a lack of power generation.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NISO said the adjustments were necessary to maintain the stability and security of the national grid following a series of faults and outages on critical transmission infrastructure.
According to the system operator, electricity generation alone does not guarantee that power can be delivered to consumers, as delivery depends on the availability and capacity of transmission networks. NISO noted that it continuously assesses transmission capacity and network conditions when determining generation dispatch and power allocations.
NISO said the Lagos power corridor was affected by outages on the Olorunsogo-Ayede 330kV Line 1, Benin-Egbin 330kV Line 1, Benin-Omotosho 330kV Line 1, as well as the prolonged outage of the Osogbo-Ikeja West circuit. These incidents significantly reduced transmission capability into the Lagos area.
As a result, power allocations to Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, and the Sakete international supply were reviewed and reduced in line with network security requirements.
The operator disclosed that the northern corridor experienced disruptions after the Shiroro-Mararaba 330kV Line 1 tripped between August 24 and 26, affecting power supply to Abuja and northern states.
The situation worsened on August 27 when the Shiroro-Mando 330kV Line 2 and Mando-Jos 330kV Line 1 tripped simultaneously. NISO explained that the outage significantly reduced transmission supply to Jos and the North-East, particularly as alternative Apir-Lafia transmission lines had already been out of service for an extended period due to faults.
Consequently, power allocations to Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Yola and other affected areas had to be curtailed to keep the power system operating within safe limits.
NISO also reported that Abuja experienced temporary transmission constraints on August 29 following the simultaneous tripping of the Shiroro-Katampe 330kV Line 1 and Gwagwalada-Katampe 330kV Line 1. The operator said both circuits were restored within hours, allowing transmission capacity to be recovered.
The system operator stressed that outages on key transmission lines can have far-reaching effects across the interconnected power network, impacting regions beyond the immediate location of the fault.
It added that when transmission constraints arise, it may be necessary to redispatch generation, curtail loads, or revise allocations to distribution companies in order to prevent wider system disturbances.
NISO maintained that the recent allocation changes were caused by transmission limitations and network configuration challenges rather than insufficient electricity generation, adding that the clarification was issued to provide the public with an accurate understanding of the situation.