Nigeria’s electricity regulator has directed the newly constituted interim board of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc (KAEDC) to restore the company’s financial and operational stability and place it on a sustainable growth path within 12 months.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Musiliu Oseni, issued the directive on Monday, August 17, during a meeting with members of the interim board and the company’s interim administrator.
Oseni said a similar regulatory intervention in 2024 had resulted in significant improvements in KAEDC’s performance before its previous investors returned to control of the company.
He urged the new board to deliver measurable progress within the one-year mandate, stressing the need for immediate action.
NERC identified KAEDC’s high aggregate technical, commercial and collection (ATC&C) losses and substantial metering gap as key areas requiring urgent attention.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayo Gbeleyi, encouraged KAEDC to take advantage of existing government metering programmes to expand meter coverage across its franchise area.
NERC Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance Dafe Akpeneye said the interim board members were selected based on their professional experience and relevant expertise.
The board’s Chairman, Abdullahi Garba, pledged to work closely with NERC and BPE to resolve outstanding challenges, improve the company’s operational and financial performance and ultimately restore KAEDC to a viable and saleable position.
The interim board is also expected to ensure prudent management of the company’s resources and demonstrate measurable improvements in its market performance.
The intervention follows NERC’s decision under Order No. NERC/2026/08 to dissolve KAEDC’s board after repeated failures to meet market obligations and other performance requirements.
NERC subsequently appointed a five-member interim board of special directors, chaired by Garba, for an initial one-year term. The commission also appointed Abubakar Umar Hashidu as interim administrator for six months to oversee the company’s operations and support the turnaround process.
KAEDC is one of Nigeria’s 11 electricity distribution companies and supplies electricity to parts of northern Nigeria.