NNPC’s 350MW Abuja Power Project Key To 8,500MW Grid Target

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) for the steady progress on the 350-megawatt Abuja Independent Power Project (IPP).

The NISO described it as a critical contribution toward Nigeria’s power generation expansion and grid stability.

The commendation was made by the managing director and chief executive officer of NISO, Abdul Mohammed-Bello, during an on-site assessment visit to the project location.

NISO noted that the project aligns with the Federal Government’s target of achieving 8,500 megawatts of grid-connected generation capacity by the end of 2026, stressing that the timely completion of the Abuja IPP would significantly strengthen the electricity supply within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs.

Bello led a high-level management delegation to assess the construction stage, engage with project teams, and identify areas where closer collaboration could help fast-track completion and commissioning.

According to him, “The Abuja IPP represents a strategic investment that will not only add new capacity to the national grid but also support grid diversification by reducing overdependence on generation plants located far from major load centres.”

As part of the visit, the NISO delegation also inspected the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) implementation site at the Gwagwalada transmission substation.

The team assessed progress on the deployment of the SCADA system, which is expected to transform grid operations through enhanced monitoring, automation, and real-time decision-making.

NISO expressed confidence that before the end of 2026, Nigeria’s entire electricity value chain—generation, transmission, and distribution will be fully integrated into a unified SCADA platform.

This integration is expected to provide real-time visibility of grid operations, improve system reliability, strengthen stability, and reduce response times to faults and disturbances.

The Abuja IPP, once operational, is projected to boost power availability in the FCT and surrounding states significantly, support economic activities, and improve the quality of supply for residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.

Reaffirming its mandate, NISO pledged to continue working closely with NNPC, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), distribution companies, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that both the power plant project and the SCADA rollout are delivered on schedule and with maximum impact on Nigeria’s power sector.