The Federal Government has begun construction of a new modern National Control Centre for the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) in Osogbo, Osun State. A statement said the facility will replace the existing 64-year-old facility that no longer meets the demands of running Nigeria’s grid. Speaking at the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima, said reliable electricity is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He described power as the foundation of an economy that works, enabling manufacturers to plan production, small businesses to operate with confidence and hospitals and schools to function, as well as creating jobs and wider economic opportunity. Firm launches new financial initiative to accelerate mechanisation Scrap dealers to shut operations over alleged unfair practices Giving an overview of the project, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said it gives NISO the ability to see what is happening across the national grid and respond promptly, describing it as a concrete expression of the President’s determination to fix the underlying weaknesses in electricity supply.
He added that once commissioned, the centre will bring integrated SCADA, large-format displays and analytics that help operators spot developing faults, plan preventive maintenance and make better use of existing generation and transmission capacity. “It will also improve responses to disturbances, support the integration of renewable energy and strengthen Nigeria’s coordination within the West African Power Pool, backed by stronger physical and cyber security. for consumers and businesses, expected payoff is fewer avoidable outages and a more dependable supply.”
He cautioned that this also depends on adequate gas feedstock, well-maintained transmission equipment and distribution networks that can deliver power to end users, with the centre strengthening the coordination that turns those investments into usable electricity. NISO’s Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, said the centre will improve NISO’s visibility of the national grid, sharpen coordination and support faster, better-informed responses to system disturbances, strengthening the security and resilience of supply.
He said better data from upgraded telemetry, SCADA and automatic metering will mean better decisions and more reliable electricity, and will improve market settlement. He noted that the new centre will equip NISO to meet the technical demands of the West African power system, and added that NISO is building the skilled operators to run it to international standards, because technology does not operate the grid, people do.
Meanwhile, Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has held a strategic closed-door meeting with leadership of select electricity distribution companies over proposed Energy Zones designed to deliver stable 24-hour power supply to homes, businesses and industries in Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt. He said the constraint on the sector is not limited to generation and transmission but includes how much power is taken up and delivered at the distribution end.
He explained that the planned Energy Zones are meant to close that gap, unlock commercial and industrial demand, and strengthen DisCo revenue and collections. He also expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to build up infrastructure in high-demand areas to ensure supply keeps pace with estimated demand in our growing economy. In a statement, the Ministry said engagement reinforces the Minister’s commitment made upon assuming office to ensure a disciplined and sequenced approach to the sector’s challenges.
It also advances the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which places reliable energy at the centre of economic growth, industrialisation and job creation. The leadership of Abuja Electric Distribution Company (AEDC), Ikeja Electric, Eko Power Ltd, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Sahara Energy Group attended the meeting.
