By Onu Okorie
Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN has officially handed over the control room building extension housing the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System SCADA/EMS at its Gwagwalada 330kV Transmission Substation to the Nigerian Independent System Operator NISO.
A statement made available to the media yesterday in Abuja explained that the move aimed at strengthening electricity grid management across the country.
The facility, will serve as a temporary National Control Centre NCC pending the completion of the permanent control centre in Gwagwalada.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, TCN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, described the event as a defining moment for the company and a significant milestone in efforts to enhance Nigeria’s electricity transmission infrastructure.
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 national grid management and power system coordination.
He explained that the building was designed as temporary accommodation for the newly acquired SCADA-EMS and telecommunications systems, as well as operational personnel, and would now serve as NISO’s interim operational base.
According to him, “the facility will enable the system operator to oversee grid operations more efficiently and reliably until the permanent National Control Centre becomes operational.”
“With this handover, NISO will assume full responsibility for operating and maintaining the facilities.”
He added that the company was confident the facility would improve grid management, enhance system reliability and ultimately deliver better electricity services to Nigerians.
Abdulaziz who appreciated the World Bank for its continued support throughout the project, reaffirmed TCN’s commitment to collaboration, innovation and service excellence as the facility begins operations under NISO.
In his acceptance remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NISO, Engr. Abdu Mohammed Bello, represented by the General Manager, System Planning, Engr. Kabir Adamu, described the handover as a major step toward strengthening the operational capacity of Nigeria’s electricity grid.
He noted that the SCADA-EMS system is critical to modern grid operations and said the new control room provides NISO with the necessary environment to commence operationalisation of the project at its current stage of deployment.
Bello assured that NISO would manage the facility responsibly to support efficient grid operations and pledged continued collaboration with TCN to advance reforms in the nation’s power sector.