The federal government has started construction of a new National Control Centre for the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) in Osogbo, Osun State. This new centre aims to improve electricity supply and make the power grid more reliable across the country.
The new facility will replace the current one, which is 64 years old. The government says this old centre can no longer handle the technical needs of managing Nigeria’s electricity grid.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led the groundbreaking ceremony. He was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters. The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, also supported the event.
During the ceremony, Mr Shettima said reliable electricity is key to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He called power the backbone of a working economy.
He added that dependable electricity helps manufacturers plan production, supports small businesses, keeps hospitals and schools running well, and creates jobs and opportunities for more people.
The Vice President said the National Control Centre is important for keeping the grid reliable. He pointed out that Nigeria cannot run a modern electricity network with old technology.
In his speech, Mr Tegbe said the project will help NISO monitor activities on the national grid better and respond quickly to any issues.
He called the project a clear sign of the Tinubu administration’s dedication to solving the ongoing problems in the electricity sector.
The project comes at a time when Nigeria faces many challenges in electricity supply, including frequent national grid failures and low power availability that affect homes, businesses, and industries.
When Mr Tinubu appointed Mr Tegbe as Minister of Power in June, he promised to focus on action instead of just words. He identified power distribution, metering, transparency, and more local involvement as key areas for improvement.
"We must close the metering gap and ensure Nigerians can track performance through a transparent public dashboard. The sector must be properly structured, and the people deserve to see real improvement," Mr Tegbe said at that time.
Project Details
The Ministry of Power stated that the new National Control Centre will have an integrated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, large display screens, and advanced analytics. These tools will help with better monitoring and management of the electricity grid.
The ministry explained that these technologies will help operators spot potential problems, plan maintenance, and make the best use of current electricity generation and transmission capacity.
"It will also improve responses to disturbances, support renewable energy integration, and strengthen Nigeria’s coordination within the West African Power Pool, backed by better physical and cyber security," the statement mentioned.
Mr Tegbe said the project is expected to cut down on avoidable outages and make electricity supply more reliable for homes and businesses.
But he warned that the success of the new facility also relies on a steady gas supply, well-maintained transmission infrastructure, and efficient distribution networks to deliver electricity to users.
He said the control centre will enhance coordination across the electricity sector, ensuring that investments in generation and transmission lead to better electricity supply.
Bello Mohammed, the Managing Director and CEO of NISO, said the new facility will give the system operator better visibility of the national grid. It will also help in quicker and more informed responses to disruptions.
Mr Mohammed added that improved data from updated telemetry, SCADA systems, and automatic metering will support better decisions and enhance the reliability of electricity supply.
He also mentioned that the centre will help NISO meet the technical needs of the West African power system. The organisation is also working on training skilled personnel to run the facility according to international standards.
"Technology does not operate the grid, people do," he said, stressing the need to build the technical skills needed to make the most of the new infrastructure.
The ministry noted that the groundbreaking ceremony is a major step towards modernising Nigeria’s electricity grid.
Members of NISO’s board, management, National Assembly committees on power, representatives from electricity distribution companies, Osun State Government officials, industry stakeholders, and community leaders were present.
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