FG Builds New Control Centre to Strengthen Power Grid

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

The new facility will replace the existing 64-year-old control centre, which officials say can no longer meet the technical demands of managing an increasingly interconnected national electricity system.

The groundbreaking ceremony was performed on Wednesday by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Legal and Compliance Matters, Bashir Maidugu. Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe also attended the ceremony.

Speaking through his representative, Shettima said reliable electricity remained critical to economic growth, industrial productivity and social development.

He said dependable power enables manufacturers to plan production, allows small businesses to operate more confidently and supports the effective functioning of hospitals and schools.

The Vice President described the National Control Centre as critical infrastructure for maintaining grid reliability, stressing that Nigeria could not operate a modern electricity network with outdated technology.

According to the Federal Government, the new facility will feature an integrated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, large-format display screens, advanced analytics and improved communications infrastructure.

These systems are expected to give grid operators better visibility of electricity flows and allow them to identify emerging faults, plan preventive maintenance and respond more quickly to disturbances.

Tegbe said the centre would also support the integration of renewable energy into the national grid and strengthen Nigeria’s coordination with other countries participating in the West African Power Pool.

The minister said stronger physical and cybersecurity arrangements would also be incorporated into the facility to protect critical power infrastructure.

He said consumers and businesses could benefit from fewer avoidable outages and more dependable electricity supply once the facility becomes operational.

However, Tegbe cautioned that the control centre alone could not resolve all challenges within the electricity sector. He identified adequate gas supply to power plants, properly maintained transmission infrastructure and functional distribution networks as essential to delivering electricity to consumers.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Bello Mohammed, said the new facility would improve the system operator’s visibility of the national grid and support faster, better-informed responses to disturbances.

The project is expected to strengthen the coordination of generation and transmission resources while providing a more modern technological foundation for managing Nigeria’s electricity system.