The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has announced plans to accelerate the implementation of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system as part of efforts to strengthen grid monitoring and enhance operational efficiency across Nigeria’s electricity network.
SCADA, a critical combination of software and hardware, enables operators to remotely monitor, control, and gather real-time data from infrastructure and industrial processes, making it a vital tool for modern power system management.
NISO’s Managing Director, Abdul-Mohammed Bello, disclosed this in a statement outlining key milestones achieved within one year of the organisation’s establishment. He noted that the system operator is working closely with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to ensure the timely completion of the project.
According to Bello, the deployment of SCADA remains a top priority due to its strategic importance in improving grid oversight and operational reliability.
“We are doing this to ensure that SCADA, which is a veritable tool for system operation, is completed. It is a work in progress, and we have also reached advanced stages in the deployment of the telemetry system across the grid at electricity trading points,” he said.
He explained that the telemetry system, which supports real-time data transmission across the network, would significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Nigeria’s electricity market by enabling real-time settlements.
“This is very critical for us to have accurate data and management aspects of the system. We have also been able to install substantially IoT metering systems on most parts of the generating units and at the interfaces between transmission and generation, and substations,” Bello added.
The managing director further revealed that the Internet of Things (IoT)-based metering infrastructure is part of an ongoing project that NISO is prioritising, with expectations that it will be completed before the end of the year. Once fully deployed, the system is expected to provide comprehensive visibility of the national grid, covering generation, transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks.
He also emphasised the organisation’s commitment to ensuring the strict implementation of the approved transmission expansion plan, noting that this would further strengthen the grid and improve overall system performance.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, Bello highlighted NISO’s focus on institutional development within the electricity regulatory ecosystem. He stated that over the past year, the organisation has prioritised building a credible and efficient system operator, backed by strong governance and management structures.
“We have been able to establish governance and management structures to support independent system operations both at the board level and at the management level,” he said.
He added that NISO has also improved coordination across the electricity value chain, including generation, transmission, distribution, and energy cost management, with the aim of fostering accountability, professionalism, and improved performance across the sector.
The accelerated push for SCADA deployment and digital monitoring tools comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s power grid, reduce inefficiencies, and create a more transparent and data-driven electricity market capable of supporting long-term sector reforms.
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