The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has raised concerns over widespread electricity theft on the Ikorodu-Sagamu transmission corridor spanning Lagos and Ogun states, revealing that about 180 megawatts of power is being lost through illegal activities linked to large electricity consumers.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator, Abdu Mohammed Bello, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos involving distribution companies, generation companies, eligible customers, and major electricity users connected to the Ikorodu-Sagamu 132kV double-circuit transmission lines.
According to Bello, investigations conducted by NISO uncovered extensive electricity theft and meter manipulation along the corridor, with some large customers connected to Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company implicated in the findings.
He described the scale of the losses as alarming, warning that it posed a serious threat to national grid stability and revenue generation in the electricity market.
Bello stated that the estimated 180MW being lost on the line was almost equivalent to the daily electricity allocation received by Jos Electricity Distribution Company.
The NISO boss explained that the discoveries led to consultations with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, which subsequently approved further enforcement measures aimed at addressing the issue.
He added that the Ikorodu-Sagamu corridor would serve as a pilot project for a nationwide crackdown on electricity theft across other transmission corridors facing similar challenges.
To curb the losses, Bello said NISO had introduced new directives requiring strict compliance with minimum electricity off-take regulations, metering classification rules, and mandatory recalibration of metering instruments by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
The measures also include compulsory installation of check meters as well as dedicated current and voltage transformers at all interface points in line with the country’s metering code.
Bello warned that customers found guilty of electricity theft would face energy reconstruction, back-billing, financial sanctions, and possible disconnection from the national grid.
He further disclosed that a joint task force comprising NISO, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and security agencies would be established immediately to monitor the corridor and enforce compliance.
Despite the challenges, Bello assured Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to improve the reliability of electricity supply through the deployment of advanced technologies, systems, and grid management processes.
