The Osogbo facility will deploy modern SCADA technology, enhanced communications and security systems to improve grid monitoring and response…..
The Federal Government has commenced the construction of a new National Control Centre for the Nigerian Independent System Operator in Osogbo, Osun State, as part of efforts to modernise the management and security of the country’s electricity grid.
The new facility is expected to replace the existing control centre, which has been in operation for 64 years and is considered inadequate for the demands of Nigeria’s increasingly interconnected power system.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima performed the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday through his Special Adviser on Legal and Compliance Matters, Alhaji Bashir Maidugu. The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, was also present.
The project is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to address weaknesses within the electricity sector and improve the reliability of power supply, according to a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Adeola Labzy.
Represented at the event, Shettima said dependable electricity remained central to the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that stable power was essential to manufacturing, small businesses, healthcare, education and job creation.
He said the country’s electricity infrastructure must evolve alongside its economic ambitions, stressing that an increasingly complex power system could not continue to rely on outdated control equipment.
Shettima described the National Control Centre as a key component of grid stability and said the new facility would provide Nigeria with stronger capabilities to monitor and manage electricity flows.
When completed and commissioned, the centre is expected to feature modern Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems, large-format control displays, advanced communications and data infrastructure, as well as enhanced security arrangements.
According to Shettima, the facility will also strengthen Nigeria’s ability to maintain the security of its domestic grid while operating within an interconnected regional electricity network.
He said the country’s changing energy mix made the investment particularly important, especially with the growing integration of renewable sources such as solar and wind.
“The integration of renewable energy resources will create opportunities for expanding electricity supply, but it will also require stronger system-management capabilities. Solar and wind generation, for example, have operational characteristics that require careful monitoring and coordination.
“A modern System Operator must therefore possess the tools and expertise to integrate new sources of generation while maintaining system security. The new NCC will provide part of that capability.”
The Vice-President also pointed to the regional implications of the project, saying greater electricity integration within West Africa would require stronger national system operators capable of managing increased cross-border power transactions without compromising domestic grid stability.
He stressed that technology alone would not be sufficient, calling for continued investment in the expertise and professional discipline of personnel responsible for operating the national grid.
Tegbe, in his remarks, said the age of the existing control centre had become a major limitation to its ability to support the current responsibilities of the Nigerian Independent System Operator.
He said the new complex would include a basement, ground floor and first floor, with space for operational, technical and support functions.
“The main building will comprise a basement, ground floor and first floor, accommodating operational, technical and support functions. A dedicated powerhouse will support continuous operation of critical systems,” the minister said.
The project will also feature a security and screening building, external infrastructure and underground electrical and fibre-optic connections designed to provide reliable power and communications.
Tegbe said the new centre would create a more modern environment for monitoring and controlling the national grid through integrated SCADA technology and large-format displays.
“Once equipped, tested and commissioned, the centre will strengthen coordination across the electricity industry. Operators will be better placed to respond to disturbances before they spread and coordinate restoration when interruptions occur. It will also support the safe integration of renewable energy resources and the operational coordination of Nigeria within the West African Power Pool.”
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Abdu Bello Mohammed, said the investment would improve the organisation’s ability to monitor the national grid, coordinate system operations and respond more quickly to disturbances.
The National Control Centre is responsible for monitoring electricity flows and coordinating operations across the power system. Its effectiveness is critical to preventing disturbances affecting generation, transmission or system frequency from spreading across the grid.
The new facility is therefore expected to provide NISO with improved tools for detecting emerging problems, analysing grid conditions and coordinating responses when disruptions occur.
