The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated the construction of a new National Control Centre for the Nigerian Independent System Operator in Osogbo, Osun State. This project aims to replace the existing 64-year-old facility and enhance the monitoring and management of Nigeria's electricity grid. The groundbreaking ceremony was performed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima's representative, Alhaji Bashir Maidugu, with the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, in attendance.
The new control centre is part of the government's efforts to address weaknesses in electricity supply and improve the reliability of the national grid. According to the Minister of Power's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Adeola Labzy, the project involves replacing an outdated facility that no longer meets the demands of running Nigeria's grid. The new centre will provide improved visibility of activities across the national grid, enabling operators to respond more quickly to faults and disturbances.
Vice-President Shettima, speaking through his representative, emphasized that reliable electricity is central to President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. He stressed that power supply is critical to economic growth, industrial productivity, and social development. The Vice-President described the National Control Centre as a critical component of grid reliability, saying Nigeria needs modern infrastructure to manage its increasingly interconnected electricity system.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, noted that the new centre will feature an integrated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, large-format display screens, and analytical tools. These tools will help operators identify emerging faults, plan preventive maintenance, and optimize the use of existing generation and transmission capacity. The centre is also expected to improve responses to grid disturbances, support the integration of renewable energy, and strengthen Nigeria's coordination with other countries participating in the West African Power Pool.
The project will be supported by stronger physical and cybersecurity measures to protect critical electricity infrastructure. Tegbe said consumers and businesses will benefit from fewer avoidable outages and more dependable electricity supply. However, he noted that the effectiveness of the control centre will also depend on improvements across the wider power value chain, including adequate gas supply to power plants, properly maintained transmission equipment, and functional distribution networks.
NISO Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abdu Bello Mohammed, said the project will improve the operator's ability to monitor the national grid, coordinate system operations, and make faster, better-informed decisions during disturbances. He emphasized the importance of developing skilled personnel to operate the new technology, noting that infrastructure alone will not guarantee better grid performance. Mohammed added that NISO is building the capacity of its operators to meet international standards.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by members of the NISO board and management, members of the National Assembly committees on power, leaders of electricity distribution companies, representatives of the Osun State Government, industry stakeholders, and community leaders. The new control centre is expected to equip NISO to meet the technical requirements of the West African power system and strengthen the security and resilience of electricity supply.
Key points
- The new National Control Centre will feature modern tools to help operators identify faults and optimize grid performance.
- The project aims to improve the reliability of Nigeria's national grid and reduce blackouts.
- The effectiveness of the control centre will depend on improvements across the wider power value chain.
