The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) is facing criticism on social media after once again distancing itself from the widely followed X account known as “Nigeria National Grid,” a platform many Nigerians rely on for real-time updates about the country’s electricity network.
In a statement dated June 5, NISO said it has no connection whatsoever with the account and warned the public, media organisations and stakeholders against attributing any information posted on the handle to the agency.
According to NISO, the operators of the account are unknown to the organisation, and a similar disclaimer had already been issued earlier this year.
“The public, media organisations, and all stakeholders are strongly advised not to quote, reference, rely upon, or attribute any information, statements, claims, or opinions published on the said account to NISO,” the agency said.
It added that content shared on the account does not represent its official position, activities or operations.
However, the warning triggered a wave of reactions from Nigerians on X, many of whom argued that the unofficial account had become a trusted source of information because it consistently provides updates that the agency itself has failed to make readily available.
One user, identified as HolyMikel, said the account gained relevance because it filled an information gap left by the authorities.
“You slept too long, there was a vacuum and someone filled it,” the user wrote, expressing doubts that the agency would provide the same level of timely information if the account were eventually shut down.
Another user, AbasJoshua, said the account simply responded to a public need for transparency in the power sector.
“He saw a gap and decided to fill it. We deserve to know what is happening in real time,” he wrote.
Others questioned why NISO was focusing on distancing itself from the account instead of improving its own communication channels.
One commenter, AlabiOse, noted that the account had built credibility by consistently providing useful data without falsely claiming to be affiliated with the agency.
“We knew him for long and not you,” the user wrote.
Some users also pointed out that while the unofficial account carries a verification badge on X, NISO’s official account remains unverified, a contrast that further fueled debate online.
The controversy highlights the growing influence of the “Nigeria National Grid” account, which has become a major source of information on electricity generation and transmission across the country.
The account regularly posts updates on power generation levels, grid performance, transmission capacity and incidents of grid disturbances, often providing information before official statements are released.
As a result, journalists, energy analysts, industry stakeholders and ordinary Nigerians frequently turn to the platform for updates on the country’s electricity supply situation.
In its statement, NISO urged the public to rely only on its official communication channels, including its X handle, @OFFICIALNISO_NG, as well as its Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts and official website.
But judging from reactions online, many Nigerians believe the issue goes beyond ownership of a social media account. For them, it is also about access to timely and reliable information in a sector where transparency has often been in short supply.
The debate has once again drawn attention to the importance of real-time communication in Nigeria’s power sector and the challenge public institutions face when unofficial platforms become more visible than their own channels.
