Nigeria has stepped up efforts to strengthen electricity generation companies (GenCos) and reduce persistent grid vulnerabilities through a nationwide push to integrate Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).

This is pursued with a renewed focus on local technical capacity.

The move comes at the launch of a sector-wide SCADA training organised by Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited at its training facility in Kainji, where industry stakeholders converged to discuss the path for compliance with new regulatory requirements.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of the Nigeria Independent System Operator, Abdul Muhammed, described the integration of generation units into the national SCADA system as an important requirement for improving grid management.

He said real-time monitoring and coordinated dispatch of electricity are critical as the power system grows more complex, noting that enhanced operational visibility would enable faster response to distortion and improve overall system stability.

“The integration of generation units into the national SCADA system is not optional. It is a critical operational and regulatory requirement for ensuring effective real-time monitoring, dispatch coordination and secure management of the national grid,” he said.

Muhammed added that the training represented a practical step towards building the technical competence required for GenCos to meet the obligations, while strengthening grid discipline across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The initiative aligns with a directive issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which mandates all grid-connected generation companies to fully integrate with the national SCADA/Energy Management System (EMS). The order, which takes effect this month, warns of penalties, including possible disconnection from the grid for non-compliance.

NERC said full integration would enhance real-time visibility of electricity generation, improve load dispatch and reduce the frequency of system collapses that have long plagued the sector.

Mainstream Energy Solutions, operator of the Kainji, Jebba and Zungeru hydro power plants, said the training, delivered through its Mainstream Academy, covers key areas such as SCADA architecture, remote terminal unit configuration, cybersecurity protocols and real-time data exchange with the National Control Centre.

The company noted that equipping GenCos with these capabilities is essential to building a smarter, more resilient grid that supports Nigeria’s industrial and economic ambitions.

Industry players at the event also advocated for a shift away from reliance on foreign technical solutions.

Managing Director of Omotosho Power, Abubakar Ibrahim, questioned the continued dependence on offshore expertise for solutions, especially training that can be addressed locally.

He described the trend as counterproductive, arguing that strengthening domestic capacity would not only deepen technical expertise within the sector but would also help to conserve scarce foreign exchange.

“Why should we go offshore for solutions that we can develop in-house? It does not make sense,” he said, urging stakeholders to prioritise local knowledge development.

Head of Mainstream Academy, Usman Umar, stressed the delicate balance required in managing the interface between electricity generation and last-mile distribution.