TCN Transfers Temporary National Grid Control Centre to NISO in Major Power Sector Milestone

By Iyojo Ameh

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has officially handed over the temporary National Control Centre (NCC) at the Gwagwalada 330kV Transmission Substation in Abuja to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), marking a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing electricity sector reforms.

The facility, which houses the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System (SCADA/EMS) and telecommunications infrastructure, will serve as NISO’s operational headquarters for managing the national grid until the permanent National Control Centre is completed.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, described the event as a major milestone in the country’s quest for a more efficient and reliable electricity transmission system.

Represented by the General Manager, Project Coordination, Engr. Amini Tahir, Abdulaziz said the project signified more than the completion of a building, noting that it represented the beginning of a new era in national grid management.

According to him, the facility was constructed to provide temporary accommodation for the newly acquired SCADA/EMS and telecommunications systems, alongside the operational staff required to run them.

“The facility will now serve as NISO’s temporary operational base, enabling the organisation to oversee grid operations more efficiently and reliably until the permanent National Control Centre becomes operational,” he said.

He noted that with the handover, NISO would assume full responsibility for operating and maintaining the facility, expressing confidence that the transition would enhance grid management, improve system reliability and ultimately translate into better electricity service delivery for Nigerians.

The TCN boss also acknowledged the support of the World Bank in delivering the project and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s transmission network.

Receiving the facility on behalf of NISO, the organisation’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abdu Mohammed Bello, represented by the General Manager, System Planning, Engr. Kabir Adamu, described the handover as a strategic development for the nation’s power sector.

He said the control centre would provide the operational environment needed to activate the SCADA/EMS project, which is critical for real-time monitoring and management of the national electricity grid.

“We all recognise the importance of SCADA/EMS for grid operations. This control room provides NISO with the platform required to commence the operationalisation of the system at this stage of its deployment,” he said.

Bello assured that NISO would effectively manage the facility while sustaining collaboration with TCN and other stakeholders to improve grid stability and operational efficiency.

Also speaking, TCN Project Manager, Engr. Samuel Fakinlade, explained that the temporary control centre would remain in use until the permanent National Control Centre is completed, after which the equipment and operational personnel would be relocated and the building returned to TCN.

The temporary National Control Centre is expected to play a vital role in enhancing real-time grid monitoring, improving operational coordination and supporting efforts to build a more resilient and efficient electricity transmission system in Nigeria.