The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has officially handed over the control room building extension for the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System (SCADA/EMS) at the Gwagwalada 330kV Transmission Substation to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
The facility will serve as the temporary National Control Centre (NCC) in Abuja as part of efforts to improve grid management and strengthen Nigeria’s electricity transmission infrastructure.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, described the event as a defining moment for the company and a significant milestone in the drive to enhance national power coordination.
Represented by the General Manager, Project Coordination, Engr. Amini Tahir, Abdulaziz said the completion of the facility marked not only the end of a construction project but also the beginning of a new phase in grid management.
According to him, 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 National Control Centre becomes operational,” he said.
Abdulaziz added that NISO would assume full 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 enhanced service delivery for Nigerians. Together, we are laying the foundation for a stronger and more resilient national grid,” he stated.
He also appreciated the World Bank for its continued support throughout the project and reaffirmed TCN’s commitment to collaboration, innovation and service excellence.
In his acceptance remarks, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Engr. Abdu Mohammed Bello, represented by the General Manager, System Planning, Engr. Kabir Adamu, described the handover as more than the transfer of infrastructure.
He said it represents a critical step toward 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.
Bello assured that NISO would manage the facility responsibly to support efficient grid operations and pledged continued collaboration to advance the nation’s power sector.
Earlier, TCN Project Manager, Engr. Samuel Fakinlade, explained that the equipment and personnel currently housed in the temporary facility would be relocated to the permanent National Control Centre upon its completion, after which the building would be returned to TCN.
The facility houses the newly installed SCADA/EMS and telecommunications system designed to support real-time grid management and system operations pending the completion of the permanent National Control Centre in Gwagwalada.
