Nigeria and other West African nations have intensified efforts to establish a fully synchronised regional electricity grid, as operators ramp up technical coordination ahead of a key June 2026 milestone.
This follows a high-level working visit by the West African Power Pool to the National Control Centre in Osogbo, where system studies, operational protocols, and readiness assessments were reviewed.
According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Independent System Operator on Wednesday, the engagement focused on preparations for the second phase of regional grid synchronisation, aimed at strengthening real-time interconnection among national electricity networks across the sub-region.
The transition represents a shift from loosely coordinated bilateral electricity exchanges to a more integrated and synchronised grid system across West Africa.
Speaking during the session, the Executive Director of System Operation at NISO, Nafisatu Asabe Ali, said the next phase would require strict compliance with unified technical standards to ensure stability and efficiency across interconnected grids.
She explained that the new framework would demand coordinated frequency control, voltage stability, adequate spinning reserves, and effective contingency management across participating countries.
Ali noted that Nigeria’s National Control Centre in Osogbo plays a pivotal role in managing grid operations and is increasingly positioned as a stabilising hub within the regional network, given the country’s generation capacity and transmission infrastructure.
She added that with the operationalisation of NISO under the Economic Community of West African States electricity market framework, the centre now handles expanded responsibilities, including real-time system security monitoring, ancillary services coordination, and cross-border energy accounting.
The statement also highlighted ongoing investments in grid modernisation, including the deployment of an upgraded SCADA/EMS system to enhance situational awareness and response to system disturbances.
Work is also underway on a new National Control Centre facility to improve redundancy, scalability, and operational resilience.
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NISO reported progress in dynamic simulations, stability studies, and trial synchronisation exercises with neighbouring countries as part of preparations for the June 2026 rollout.
On behalf of the visiting delegation, the Secretary-General of the West African Power Pool, Abdoulaye Diaw, emphasised the importance of maintaining strict technical discipline and adherence to regional standards to ensure seamless grid integration.
Diaw commended Nigeria’s efforts in strengthening system operations and called for sustained investment in infrastructure, capacity development, and coordination mechanisms critical to the success of the initiative.
During the visit, the Acting General Manager of the National Control Centre, Umor Emmanuel, presented an overview of the centre’s operational framework, including its role in automatic generation control and load frequency management.
The delegation, comprising senior technical officials, also participated in system review sessions and operational briefings.
Prior to the Osogbo visit, the team had conducted preliminary coordination and readiness checks at the Lagos Operations Regional Office on April 27.
The planned synchronisation is expected to significantly improve electricity supply across West Africa by enabling more reliable cross-border power trade, enhancing grid stability, and optimising energy distribution efficiency.
In November 2025, NISO, in collaboration with the WAPP Information and Coordination Centre, successfully conducted a synchronisation test involving Nigeria’s power grid—alongside systems in Niger, Benin, and Togo—and the broader West African grid, marking a major step toward full regional integration.