NISO Raises Alarm Over Massive 180MW Electricity Theft on Ikorodu-Sagamu Transmission Corridor
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has sounded a strong alarm over rampant electricity theft along the critical Ikorodu-Sagamu 132kV double-circuit transmission corridor, which spans Lagos and Ogun states, revealing that approximately 180 megawatts (MW) of power is being lost to large customers through illegal practices.
Engr. Abdu Mohammed Bello (also referred to as Abdu Bello Mohammed), FNSE, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NISO, disclosed the findings during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held recently in Lagos (specifically noted in Ikeja West). The gathering brought together representatives from distribution companies (Discos), generation companies (GenCos), eligible customers, and large customers directly connected to the affected lines.
“We discovered that the Ikorodu-Sagamu 132kV double-circuit line has a lot of very serious theft issues. The magnitude of the thefts is unimaginable,” Bello stated. “The theft along that line is close to 180MW. So you can imagine losing 180MW, which is almost equivalent to the daily allocation of Jos Electricity Distribution Company.”
Investigations by NISO uncovered widespread issues including offtake indiscipline, metering irregularities, meter manipulation, and energy accountability gaps. Large customers linked to the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEJA Disco) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBADAN Disco) have been implicated in these practices, which contribute to high Transmission Loss Factors on the corridor.
The Ikorodu-Sagamu corridor serves as a vital artery for power supply to industrial and commercial hubs in Lagos and Ogun states. Such significant losses exacerbate Nigeria’s ongoing power supply challenges, increase costs for compliant customers, strain grid stability, and undermine investments in the sector following the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the establishment of NISO under the Electricity Act 2023.
NISO officials described the meeting as a decisive intervention aimed at restoring measurement integrity and operational discipline. Stakeholders received detailed briefings on investigation findings and were reminded of their obligations under the Grid Code, Market Rules, Metering Code, and Eligible Customer Regulations 2024. The agency outlined immediate corrective actions, enhanced monitoring frameworks, and enforcement measures aligned with global best practices.
This development occurs against a backdrop of broader efforts by NISO to reduce national transmission losses, which the agency recently reported had dropped to 7.05% through targeted interventions. However, non-technical losses like theft remain a persistent drain on the sector, with experts estimating that Nigeria loses over 40% of generated electricity annually to a combination of technical and commercial issues, including theft and unpaid bills.
NISO has called for collective responsibility among all market participants to address these challenges and ensure reliable electricity supply. Further details on specific enforcement actions or timelines for resolution are expected as the agency intensifies oversight on the corridor.
The incident underscores the urgent need for stronger collaboration, technological upgrades (such as IoT and SCADA systems), and stricter compliance to safeguard Nigeria’s fragile national grid and support economic growth in the Southwest region.
