BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The MD/CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdullaziz, stated that the SCADA project, funded by the World Bank, is currently at 69 percent completion and is expected to be finalized in six months to improve real-time monitoring of power stations.
The TCN boss disclosed this following the announcement of a new unprecedented peak generation of 5,801.84 MWh of electricity on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, marking the first-ever recorded capacity in the history of the Nigerian power sector, which has been successfully evacuated to distribution centers nationwide.
Abdullaziz, speaking during a conversation with Aso Villa’s ‘Meet the Press,’ shared remarkable insights into TCN’s achievements over the past two years, including completed and ongoing transmission projects.
Part of the achievements the MD/CEO mentioned was the TCN’s current evacuation capacity of 8,500MWh of electricity, with projections to increase this capacity to 10,000MWh within two years if generated by the GenCos.
“As transmission Company of Nigeria, I say as today, we can transmit 8,500MW if it is generated. I have mentioned in my speech the highest ever in history is 5,801MW. So, we are still ahead of what’s generated. We are saying that with the projects we are doing, in less than two years, we will be able to transmit 10,000MW if produced by the GenCos.”
He said this can be achieved through investment; however, all investments has been coming from the federal government without any external investors’ involvement.
“How do we reach that? It is by investment. Transmission company of Nigeria is 100% owned by the federal government. Up to now, there is nobody who has come to invest. All these investments are coming from the federal government.
“We are doing new transmission line. We are building new substations. We are conducting all transmission line to make sure that access capacity can be transmitted. So it’s either the federal government or the donor agencies. But even the donor agencies, they have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Finance, not even with TCN, through the MoU. So it means all investment is coming from the federal government.”
On the technical aspect of its operations, Engr. Abdullaziz revealed that TCN has been able to install and commission into service a total of 66 power transformers, including execution of transmission substations and conductor transmission lines to boost transmission capacity.
He continued: “Our progress is also evident in the reduction in grid disturbances over the past five years. However, to enable us to manage the grid in the absence of SCADA, we developed the generation load drop sensitivity, which we call GLDS system, which detects and responds to sudden drop in power generation, preventing cascading failures. Additionally, all our substations have now been fully digitalized and automated.
“We equally developed an in-house Internet of Things, IoT solution, to improve visibility of power generators. This successfully expanded visibility of power station from six to 27 locations. Without SCADA, still we can see 27 locations of our station. This is being used as a top-gap solution until the ongoing SCADA project, funded by the World Bank, is completed. The SCADA project is about 69% completed. And on completion, it will enhance real-time monitoring and improve grid management and efficiency. From our own work program, in six months time, we are going to finish SCADA.
“The World Bank was funding Nigeria Electricity Transmission and Access Project (NETAP). In that NETAP, we have $486 million, and it is out of it and we are doing the SCADA project. Once the SCADA completed, we will be able to see jn real-time whatever is happening on the grid. There will be no need to use the phone to call someone. It will identify any faults within the NESI, whether it is with GenCos, TCN, or DisCos, and you can print the information. By the grace of God, it will be completed within six months.
“To also help in grid stability and reduce transmission losses, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is enforcing the free governor control. A 3-1 committee is in place to oversee the activation of the free governor model of the operation across all the stations. We have equally introduced an enhanced maintenance regime, which includes inspections, preventive maintenance, and swift repairs.”
While responding to the issue of vandalism and the effort TCN is investing to mitigate the menace, the MD/CEO disclosed that discussions are ongoing with companies about adopting technology in tackling vandalism using drones.
Engr. Abdullaziz expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, for fostering an environment that has facilitated these accomplishments. He also lauded the efforts of all stakeholders, including GenCos, DisCos, NERC, and the diligent engineers within the power sector chain.