By Elizabeth Chukwuma
Determined to improve its efficiency and electricity supply in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger, home state of former Nigerian military President, Ibrahim Babangida, a retired Army General , the Board of Directors of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, a subsidiary of Transcorp Group under the Chairmanship of Tony Elumelu, a Philantropist and multi-billionaire business mogul, has approved the appointment of Chijioke Okwuokenye, an Engr. as the company new acting Managing Director and Chief Executive officer, CEO, on Monday, July 22, 2024.
Described as a person with sound ‘’ technical knowledge’’. Engr. Okwuokenye, who had replaced Victor Ojelabi, the immediate past acting Managing Director and CEO, of the Company, who was said to have been appointed last January, was removed three days after the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, under the close wach of Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz,had issued the electricity distribution company a ‘’disconnection notice’’.
AEDC, Board of Directors, under the Chairmanship of Stanley Lawson, may not have found it funny to fold its hands watch TCN, disconnect company from the national grid over alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the market rules and market participation agreements. It was not surprising why the Board members had applied the sledge hammer to remove Ojelabi, the acting Managing Director,before he drags the company’s name to the mud.
The AEDC, Board of Directors may have found it necessary to remove Ojelabi, the former acting Managing Director when it became obvious that the TCN, Authorities are out to sanction the company as it had already’’ barred it from entering into new contract in the market’’ which many believe will give an edge to its competitors over it.
Given that Engr. Okwuokenye, has the required technical knowledge and wealth of experience, may have informed why the Board expected him to fully reposition AEDC, described as ‘’the country’s foremost, customer- focused electricity distribution company’’ in the power sector to avoid running into trouble with TCN.
The power company, according to informed sources between May 2023 and now, had face wide-ranging challenges ranging from poorly constructed and maintained facilities and networks outages which were rampant after effectively taking over the assets, utility staff and current operation from the KANN Utility Company, a product of CEC African Investment of Zambia and Xerxes Global Investments Nigeria which was said to be in bad state.
The then management team led Christopher Ezeafulukwe was said to have tackled the challenges which included limited access to infrastructure, inefficienta usage of energy capacity, Lack of Capital investment , Inefficient use of electricity by consumers and inappropriate industries and market structure headlong.
There is no gain saying the fact while the nation’s telecommunication market has recorded advancement and stability, the electricity market in Nigeria is still facing mixed challenges of slow growth in generation capacity, market deregulation process interference by Adebayo Adelabu, led Federal ministry of Power, Insufficient transmission lines and distribution equipment, vandalization of transmission equipment, poor maintenance of existing electrical facilities, and high level corruption
Given an insider information, Lawson, the AEDC, Chairman, Board of Directors had said that the Transcorp led – consortium which became the core investor in the electricity distribution company , following its 60% acquisition of the company’s shareholdings had intensified efforts ‘’to upgrade its substations, expand distribution networks and integrate cutting –edge technologies’’. To enhance power to enhance its supply reliability and operational efficiency.
. Until Engr. Okwuokenye, elevation to occupy the AEDC, exalted office of acting Managing Director, Last Monday, he was said to have served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, COO, which qualifies him for the new position where he had superintended strategic support units and embedded generation projects of the power company.
Energy experts believe that the new acting Managing Director of AEDC, will bring his wealth of experience and technical expertise as well as passion for the attainment of the vision for the country’s electricity supply industry to bear on the company.
Speaking on the appointment into the new Management team of the electricity distribution company Lawson, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the had said that Engr. Okwuokenye, was appointed to fill the vacuum that had been created removal of the immediate past acting Managing Director because he is an ‘’experienced leader who has been part of the power distribution company transformation agenda’’ from the onset.
He was emphatic that, Engr. Okwuokenye, the company‘s former COO, was the most suited to fill the vacant position in the company in order ‘’to drive its Corporate turnaround’’. The AEDC, Chairman is optimistic that with his’’ technical and Commercial background ‘’, he will continue to drive value for the company’s stakeholders.
The Nigerian foremost electricity company Board of Directors was said to have also announced the appointment of Olumide Jrome ,, as the company’s COO, a position vacated by Engr. Okwuokenye, the incumbent acting Managing Director of the Company.
He was said to have served as one of the AEDC, Chief Business Officers, CBOs. Expected to drive efficiency and operational excellence across the company as part of his new responsibilities, the AEDC, Board Chairman is optimistic that he has all that it takes ‘’to pilot the affairs of the electricity company to greater heights’’..
The AEDC, Chairman, who could not hide his feelings was said to have those that cares to listen that the AEDC, which is an electricity distribution company in Nigeria is’’ committed to delivering dependable electricity supply to millions of electricity consumers across the nation’s key commercial centres in FCT, Kogi, Niger and Nasarawa states.
He had pointed out at different forums that ‘’ the company prioritizes customer experience and consistently strives to create value for all stakeholders , while contributing to the socio-economic development’’ of the regions it currently serves.
