The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a directive mandating all grid-connected power generation companies to fully integrate with the national Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System by December 31, 2025.
Failure to comply with the integration deadline will attract severe financial penalties and may lead to disconnection from the national grid.
The directive is outlined in a newly released regulatory document titled “Order on the Mandatory Integration of Grid-Connected Generating Units into the New SCADA/EMS for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry,” obtained from the commission on Wednesday in Abuja.
The directive aims to enhance real-time monitoring of the national power grid, boost operational efficiency, improve load dispatch, and minimize system disturbances by ensuring complete visibility of electricity generation nationwide.
It was signed by NERC Chairman Garba Sanusi and Vice Chairman Musiliu Oseni, and took effect on May 22, 2025.
In recent years, the national grid has suffered multiple collapses, largely due to poor coordination among generation, transmission, and distribution assets.
A fully functional SCADA/EMS—often described as the grid’s central nervous system—supports automated controls, real-time fault detection, and live monitoring of generation output. Yet, many generation companies (GenCos) remain partially or entirely disconnected from this critical system.
To address this, NERC’s new order compels power generators to install SCADA-compliant data acquisition devices, ensure compatibility with the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s protocols, and allow remote visibility by the Nigerian Independent System Operator.
The order read, “Pursuant to Section 12.2 of the Grid Code for the Nigeria Electricity Transmission System (the “Grid Code” or the “Code”), all the generation companies are mandated to provide real-time operational data to the Nigerian Independent System Operator through the SCADA/EMS to facilitate effective grid management.
“Section 20.16 further requires the Gencos to ensure seamless communication and data exchange with the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc SCADA/EMS for accurate system monitoring, fault detection, and load dispatch.
“Section 20.16.1 of the Grid Code stipulates that SCADA Remote Terminal Units shall be required in all the control rooms of the System Operator and at the Off-taker’s boundary site and the generator’s control room for the transmission of signals and indications to and from the National Control Centre.”
The order referenced Section 20.16.2 of the Grid Code, which requires that interface cabinets be installed in the appropriate control rooms. It also obligates users to provide and maintain the wiring and signalling from their equipment to the interface cabinet.
“The SCADA/EMS/System Telecommunications project being executed by the TCN has progressed substantially to a level that requires the integration of the power generation units to have a complete functional and efficient SCADA/EMS for the NESI.
“The order aims to, through the full integration of Gencos, enhance grid visibility and operational efficiency through real-time monitoring of grid operations to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Grid Code for the Nigerian Electricity Transmission System,” the NERC stated.
