The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a deadline for all power generation companies on the national grid to link their operations to the grid’s real-time monitoring and control system by December 31, 2025.
The directive was issued in a new regulatory document titled “Order on the Mandatory Integration of Grid-Connected Generating Units into the New SCADA/EMS for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.” It became effective on May 22, and is intended to improve oversight of electricity production, reduce system failures, and ensure smoother coordination between power generation and transmission. Non-compliant companies face penalties or possible disconnection from the grid.
SCADA, also referred to as the Energy Management System (EMS), functions as the operational nerve center of the electricity grid, supporting live data monitoring, automated system control, and rapid fault detection.
NERC noted that a lack of SCADA integration has contributed to recent nationwide grid collapses, often caused by poor coordination between generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
To address this, the order compels GenCos to transmit real-time data, such as power output, voltage, frequency, and alarm signals, to the National Control Centre through SCADA-compatible equipment. It also mandates seamless data exchange and communication with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and compliance with existing provisions in the Grid Code.
The commission explained that the ongoing SCADA/EMS and telecoms project being implemented by TCN has reached a stage where full GenCo participation is now essential for nationwide grid reliability.
