The Federal Government yesterday flagged off the construction of a new ultra-modern National Control Centre (NCC) for the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) in a major move aimed at strengthening grid reliability and supporting the realisation of the nation’s power generation target.
At the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new NCC, in Osogbo, Osun State, Vice President Kashim Shettima said the new facility, which will replace the existing 64-year old facility that no longer meets the demands of the country’s grid, formed a major part of comprehensive restructuring of the electricity sector by the government.
He said reliable electricity is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that power is the foundation of an economy that works.
According to him, the government understands that reliable power system is key to national productivity, 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.
He explained that modern NCC would ensure reliability, pointing out that Nigeria cannot run a modern, interconnected grid with the tools of yesterday.
He said the new facility would support the attainment of Federal Government’s target of increasing power generation capacity.
Nigeria plans to achieve electricity generation target of 277 gigawatts by 2060 to drive industrialisation and economic growth.
Shettima, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Compliance Matters, Bashir Maidugu, noted that Federal Government recognises that transforming Nigeria’s electricity sector requires more than adding generation capacity or constructing transmission infrastructure.
He underscored the importance of modern technology and a system in which every part of the electricity value chain understands its responsibility and is held accountable for performance.
He noted that Electricity Act 2023 provides framework for continued transformation which places emphasis on the need for a more comprehensive approach to electricity development including the integration of renewable energy into Nigeria’s energy mix.
He said: ‘The establishment of the Nigerian Independent System Operator is an important part of this institutional evolution. The separation of system operation from transmission asset ownership and management creates an environment in which the system operator can focus on its core responsibility: ensuring the secure and coordinated operation of the electricity system’.
Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Tegbe said the new NCC in Osogbo will help improve the country’s power grid and reduce cases of grid collapse.
He stressed that the existing NCC, built in the 1960s, is no longer adequate to handle the growing demand and changes in the country’s power sector.
‘The new centre would use modern systems to monitor the national grid and help operators detect and respond to problems faster. The facility would help with voltage and frequency regulation and allow operators to respond more quickly when problems occur on the grid,’ Tegbe said.
He added that the new centre would improve the country’s ability to deal with cybersecurity threats and other forms of interference in the power sector.
He said: ‘When you look at the structure we have here, it’s almost like two-third control rooms to monitor different aspects of the grid, this is going to help us stabilise our grids ultimately which is what we want to have. …what we need is this kind of modern national control centre, upgraded to handle cyber security challenges, all sorts of interferences and disturbances. That’s why this is required to stabilise our power sector.’
Managing Director, Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Engr Bello Mohammed, explained that the new NCC would provide the agency with an enhanced environment for real-time monitoring, system control, operational coordination, grid security and decision-making.
‘It will strengthen our capacity to see the grid more clearly, understand its behaviour more accurately and respond to system events with greater speed and precision,’ Mohammed said.