Investors mobilise N10bn to improve KEDCO networks

Future Energies Africa (FEA), the core investor of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has stated that it has spent over N10bn in upgrading and improving infrastructural networks in its franchise area after acquisition in 2024. Speaking during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of Media Trust Group, publishers of Daily, Trust TV, Trust Radio […]

Future Energies Africa (FEA), the core investor of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has stated that it has spent over N10bn in upgrading and improving infrastructural networks in its franchise area after acquisition in 2024.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of Media Trust Group, publishers of Daily, Trust TV, Trust Radio and other publications, the strategic Adviser to the board of FEA, Ahmad Zakari, said these investments have translated into more power supply and financial remittance into the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Zakari, who stated that the company had been underperforming before FEA came on board, said through innovation and strategic reforms, KEDCO is among the best performing DisCos in the country.

He added that despite 10 years of ownership by the prior core investor group, when FEA took over the entity as the core investor, less than 15% of households were identified.

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So apart from no metering, most customers are not even known. And then you had a revenue contribution per employee of N19 million which from a productivity perspective was the third lowest amongst all discos.”

He added that despite the gloomy picture, the investors saw a potential in the company and its investment has resulted in enviable changes.

While stating that there are challenges to overcome, he said the recent news of drop in supply to some of its customers was due to the low volume of electricity it received in some of its substations serving both commercial and residential areas.

He stated that the company is working to improve electricity supplied to residential feeders but those distributed to industrial feeders have been top notch.

He said since the increase in electricity tariff for Band A feeders, the company has not received a complaint to downgrade any of its feeders.

“Today, there are many industries in Kano’s network, particularly in Kano itself, that have for a very long time been starved of electricity and that has created high production costs for our industries, which has also created a lack of investment appetite in Kano, which has resulted to the poverty rate and unemployment rate that we have.”

He said the company is trying to change the narrative with the Dawanau International Market soon to be getting more than 20 hours of electricity supply.

While urging its customers to continue their support in paying for electricity and being vigilant in protecting power infrastructures in their communities, he said the company is aiming to build more solar mini grids to diversify its source of electricity.

Media Trust’s GCEO, Ahmed Shekarau, said there is the need for power utility companies to communicate their activities often to dispel misconceptions on the power sector since privatisation.

He said all Media Trusts’ platforms are available to propagate the activities of the company.