NISO Control Centre: Akin-Olugbade, Abdu Bello unveil new phase for Nigeria’s power grid

Dr Adesegun Akin-Olugbade
NISO Chairman

"The effectiveness of an electricity market depends on clear institutional responsibilities, operational independence, effective governance, transparent market administration and strong technical capacity." Dr Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, NISO Chairman.

..... Says "the new NCC would strengthen NISO’s ability to observe the national grid in real time, coordinate system resources, manage contingencies and maintain system security, thereby enhancing the credibility and effectiveness of the electricity market."

"The project marked the beginning of a new generation of power system operations in Nigeria." Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed. MD/CEO NISO 

.... Describes the National Control Centre as the heart of the country’s electricity system, where information from across the grid is brought together, system conditions are monitored in real time, operational decisions are taken and the balance between electricity generation and demand is continuously managed."

The Nigerian Independent System Operator, NISO, has commenced the construction of a new ultra-modern National Control Centre, NCC, in Osogbo, Osun State, in a move aimed at strengthening real-time monitoring, coordination and security of Nigeria’s electricity grid.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held Wednesday, was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, and other stakeholders in the electricity sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the NISO Board, Dr Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, OON, said the project represented a major step in the continuing transformation of Nigeria’s electricity sector, stressing that the facility was not merely an infrastructure project but part of the institutional framework required to implement the reforms introduced by the Electricity Act 2023.

Akin-Olugbade said the establishment of NISO under the Act was designed to provide a dedicated institutional platform for System Operation, Market Operation and System Planning, which he described as critical components of a modern electricity industry.

According to him, the effectiveness of an electricity market depends on clear institutional responsibilities, operational independence, effective governance, transparent market administration and strong technical capacity.

He said the new NCC would strengthen NISO’s ability to observe the national grid in real time, coordinate system resources, manage contingencies and maintain system security, thereby enhancing the credibility and effectiveness of the electricity market.

The NISO chairman stressed that infrastructure alone could not deliver sustainable results without appropriate governance, competent personnel, sound procedures and accountability.

He said the Board would continue to promote neutrality, transparency, professionalism and operational excellence, while supporting management in developing the human capacity required to operate modern power systems.

Akin-Olugbade also placed the project within the context of Nigeria’s growing participation in the West African Power Pool, WAPP, noting that the successful synchronisation test involving Nigeria’s power system and WAPP on November 8, 2025, had underscored the growing importance of effective system coordination as regional electricity integration expands.

He said the new control centre would therefore strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to manage both its domestic electricity system and the demands associated with an increasingly interconnected West African power market.

On his part, NISO Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, FNSE, said the project marked the beginning of a new generation of power system operations in Nigeria.

Mohammed described the National Control Centre as the heart of the country’s electricity system, where information from across the grid is brought together, system conditions are monitored in real time, operational decisions are taken and the balance between electricity generation and demand is continuously managed.

He said the changing nature of Nigeria’s electricity system required infrastructure and technology capable of matching the responsibilities of an increasingly complex grid.

According to him, the new NCC would provide NISO with an enhanced environment for real-time monitoring, system control, operational coordination, grid security and decision-making.

The NISO chief executive said the organisation had continued to strengthen its operational capacity through improved real-time monitoring, enhanced system-security measures, better frequency control, disturbance management and modern communications infrastructure.

He added that NISO was also strengthening voltage and frequency monitoring, reactive-power management, protection coordination and power-quality monitoring across grid-connected facilities.

Mohammed said the organisation was advancing communication, telemetry and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, SCADA, infrastructure, alongside initiatives on automatic metering and telemetry aimed at improving metering visibility, data integrity and market settlement processes.

He stressed that improved data would lead to better decisions and more effective management of the power system.

“Better data means better decisions. Better decisions mean better system management, and better system management contributes to a more reliable electricity supply,” he said.

The NISO MD, however, emphasised that technology alone could not operate the national grid, stressing the importance of skilled and professionally trained system operators.

He said NISO was investing in the technical competence, operational readiness and professional development of its personnel to ensure that the new infrastructure would be backed by the human capacity required to operate a modern power system to international standards.

Mohammed said the true significance of the Osogbo project would ultimately be measured by its impact on grid visibility, operational coordination, response to disturbances, grid security and resilience, rather than merely by the size or sophistication of the facility.

He said the project would contribute to the development of a “smarter,” more visible, resilient and responsive national grid capable of supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation, economic growth and national development.

Both Akin-Olugbade and Mohammed expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Vice President, the Osun State Government, the Ministry of Power, the National Assembly committees on power, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance Incorporated and other stakeholders for their support for the reform of the electricity sector.

They also commended the Government and people of Osun State for hosting the national infrastructure, while acknowledging the contributions of technical partners, consultants, contractors and NISO staff to the project.

The groundbreaking marks another phase in the restructuring of Nigeria’s electricity industry following the establishment of NISO as an independent system and market operator under the Electricity Act 2023.

The new NCC is expected to provide a modern operational platform for managing an increasingly data-driven, interconnected and complex electricity system.