The Transmission Company of Nigeria has handed over a temporary National Control Centre in Abuja to the Nigerian Independent System Operator as part of efforts to improve electricity grid management and system reliability.
The facility, located at the Gwagwalada 330kV Transmission Substation, houses the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System and telecommunications equipment required for real-time monitoring and operation of the national grid.
The handover was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah.
According to the statement, the facility, handed over on June 30, will serve as NISO’s temporary operational base until the completion of the permanent National Control Centre in Gwagwalada.
Speaking during the handover, TCN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sule Abdulaziz, described the project as a major milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electricity transmission infrastructure.
Represented by the General Manager, Project Coordination, Amini Tahir, Abdulaziz said the completion of the facility marked the beginning of a new phase in national grid management.
“The building was designed as temporary accommodation for the newly acquired SCADA-EMS and telecommunications systems, along with a dedicated team of operational staff.
“It will now serve as a temporary operational base for NISO, enabling the organisation to oversee grid operations more efficiently and reliably until the permanent NCC becomes operational,” he said.
He added that NISO would assume responsibility for operating and maintaining the facility.
“We hand over this facility to NISO because we believe it is key to better grid management, improved system reliability, and better service delivery for Nigerians. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger and more resilient grid,” he said.
He also appreciated the World Bank for supporting the project and reaffirmed TCN’s commitment to collaboration and innovation in the power sector.
In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Abdu Mohammed Bello, represented by the General Manager, System Planning, Kabir Adamu, described the handover as a critical step towards improving the operational capacity of Nigeria’s electricity grid.
“We all recognise the importance of SCADA-EMS for grid operations. This control room provides NISO with the environment needed to commence the operationalisation of the SCADA/EMS project at this stage of its deployment,” he said.
He pledged that NISO would manage the facility effectively to support efficient grid operations.
TCN’s Project Manager, Samuel Fakinlade, said the equipment and personnel currently housed in the temporary facility would be moved to the permanent National Control Centre upon its completion, after which the building would revert to TCN.