NISO Breaks Ground For New National Control Centre, Targets Stronger Grid Operations

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has broken ground for the construction of a new ultra-modern National Control Centre in Osogbo, Osun State, as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s electricity grid management and strengthen system reliability.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, marked a significant step in the development of infrastructure to support more effective monitoring, control and operation of the national power grid.

Representing Vice President Kashim Shettima at the ceremony, his Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Compliance Matters, Alhaji Bashir Maidugu, said the project reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening critical national infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Maidugu said a modern and more efficient electricity system was essential to economic growth, adding that the new facility would contribute to socio-economic development and create a more favourable environment for citizens and businesses.

The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, said the project became necessary because the existing National Control Centre had served the country for approximately six decades.

Tegbe said the age and evolving demands of Nigeria’s electricity system made the development of a modern control facility imperative, particularly as the country seeks to improve the efficiency and reliability of grid operations.

He called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders across the power sector, urging them to support NISO in delivering its mandate of ensuring efficient system operation and electricity market administration.

The Chairman of the NISO Board of Directors, Dr Adesegun A. Akin-Olugbade, described the project as a major milestone in the implementation of the institutional framework established under the Electricity Act 2023.

Akin-Olugbade said NISO’s responsibilities in Market Administration, System Operation and System Planning could only be effectively discharged with modern technology, sound governance and enhanced technical capabilities.

He said the new control centre would provide the technological infrastructure needed to strengthen NISO’s operations and support the organisation as Nigeria’s electricity market becomes increasingly complex.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, FNSE, described the groundbreaking as the beginning of a new chapter in Nigeria’s power system operations.

Mohammed said the changing nature of the national grid required modern tools, accurate data and skilled professionals capable of making rapid operational decisions.

“As Nigeria’s electricity grid grows increasingly complex, we require modern technology, reliable data and skilled professionals to operate it effectively,” he said.

He said the new centre would improve visibility across the national grid, strengthen real-time monitoring and security, and enable operators to respond to system events faster and with greater precision.

The ultra-modern National Control Centre is designed to provide NISO with an advanced operational environment capable of supporting efficient system management and modern grid-control functions.

The project is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to monitor and manage its electricity network while providing the technological foundation required for the continued development of the national power system.