FG begins construction of new national control centre in Osogbo

By Adebola Muili

The Federal Government has commenced the construction of a new National Control Centre for the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) in Osogbo, Osun State, as part of efforts to strengthen the reliability, security and resilience of Nigeria’s electricity grid.

The groundbreaking ceremony, performed by Vice President Kashim Shettima and supported by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, marks the replacement of the existing 64-year-old control facility with an ultra-modern centre designed to meet the demands of Nigeria’s interconnected power system.

Representing the Vice President at the ceremony, the Senior Special Assistant (Legal), Office of the Vice President, said reliable electricity remained central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing power as a foundation for economic growth and development.

He said reliable electricity enables manufacturers to plan production, supports small businesses, keeps hospitals and schools running and creates jobs and wider economic opportunities.

According to him, the National Control Centre is critical to protecting the reliability of the electricity system, stressing that Nigeria could not operate a modern, interconnected grid effectively with outdated infrastructure.

Giving an overview of the project, Tegbe said the new facility would give NISO improved visibility of activities across the national grid and enable operators to respond more promptly to system disturbances.

He described the project as a concrete expression of the Federal Government’s determination to address underlying weaknesses in the nation’s electricity supply system.

Tegbe said the centre, when completed and commissioned, would feature integrated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, large-format displays and advanced analytics to enable operators identify developing faults, plan preventive maintenance and optimise available generation and transmission capacity.

He added that the facility would strengthen the country’s response to disturbances, support the integration of renewable energy into the grid and improve Nigeria’s coordination within the West African Power Pool.

The minister also said the project would be backed by stronger physical and cyber-security measures, adding that consumers and businesses were expected to benefit from fewer avoidable outages and a more dependable electricity supply.

Tegbe, however, noted that the effectiveness of the control centre would also depend on other critical components of the electricity value chain, including adequate gas feedstock, properly maintained transmission infrastructure and distribution networks capable of delivering available power to consumers.

He said the new centre would strengthen coordination across the system, helping to translate investments in generation and transmission into electricity that can be delivered to end users.

Also speaking, NISO Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, said the facility would improve the system operator’s visibility of the national grid, strengthen coordination and support faster, better-informed responses to disturbances.

Mohammed said upgraded telemetry, SCADA and automatic metering would provide NISO with better data for operational decisions and market settlement, ultimately contributing to a more reliable electricity system.

He said the new control centre would also position NISO to meet the technical requirements of the West African power system.

According to him, NISO is simultaneously developing the skilled workforce required to operate the facility in line with international standards.

“Technology does not operate the grid, people do,” he said, underscoring the importance of competent operators alongside modern infrastructure.

The ceremony was attended by the Board and Management of NISO, members of the National Assembly Committees on Power, leaders of various electricity distribution companies, representatives of the Osun State Government, industry stakeholders and community leaders.