The Nigerian government has taken over three non-performing electricity distribution companies which includes Kano, Kaduna, and Benin DisCos.
Based on the statutory responsibilities given to them by the government, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, finally sacked the managing directors of the three DisCos and announced their replacements with immediate effect.
The three firms were considered to be technically incapacitated, and financial insolvent after their loan facilities from Fidelity Bank became moribund, landing the Discos in trouble with the Bank.
The three-page statement jointly signed by the Chairman NERC, Sanusi Garba, and the Director General of BPE, Alex Okoh, named Ahmad Dangana as the new Managing Director for Kano Disco, Henry Ajagbawa, new Managing Director for Benin, and Yusuf Usman Yahaya as the new Managing Director for Kaduna DisCo.
They replaced Funke Osibodu formerly of Benin DisCo, and Jamil I. Gwamna formerly of Kano Disco. Yusuf Yahaya who was just made the Managing Director of Kaduna was re-appointed under this new takeover management.
The joint statement explained that the action became necessary as Fidelity Bank has informed the government that it had activated the call on the collaterised shares of the three companies and “that they have initiated action to take over the boards of these DISCOS and exercise their rights on the shares.”
The Yola, Ibadan, and Abuja DisCos have earlier lost their initial management and with these new takeovers of Kano, Kaduna and Benin DisCos, the list has increased to six.
Meanwhile, Electricity consumers have been jubilant and also commended the government over the three DisCos newly taken over for technical incapacitation, and financial insolvency.
In a related development Fidelity Bank has taken over boards of Kano, Benin, Kaduna DISCOs, to exercise rights on their shares
With takeover of Ibadan DISCO by AMCON, BPE gets NERC approval to appoint Kingsley Achife as interim MD as re-structuring of Port Harcourt DISCO ongoing to forestall the imminent insolvency
The Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE, Alex Okoh, and the Executive Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sanusi Garba said this in a joint statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
“Today, we were informed by Fidelity Bank that they have activated the call on the collateralised shares of Kano, Benin and Kaduna (Fidelity and AFREXIM) DISCOs.
“They have also initiated action to take over the Boards of these DISCOs and exercise the rights on the shares.
“Fidelity Bank’s action is a contractual and commercial intervention and is between the Core Investors in the DISCOs and the lender. BPE is involved because of the 40 per cent shareholding of the government in the DISCOs.’’
According to the statement, the new board members of the affected Kano DISCO are, Hasan Tukur, as Chairman, Nelson Ahaneku, and Rabiu Suleiman as members.
It said Benin DISCO would have K.C. Akuma, as the Chairman, Adeola Ijose and Charles Onwera as members.
The statement said Kaduna DISCO would have Abbas Jega as Chairman, Ameenu Abubakar and Marlene Ngoyi as members.
It said BPE had nominated Bashir Gwandu, (Kano), Yomi Adeyemi (Benin), and Umar Abdullahi (Kaduna) as independent directors to represent the government’s 40 per cent interest in the three DISCOs respectively during the transition.
“We are engaging with the Central Bank of Nigeria (as the banking sector regulator) to ensure an orderly transition and to ensure that Fidelity Bank does not hold the DISCOs’ shares in perpetuity. It is envisaged that the majority interest in the entities would be sold to capable private sector investors willing and able to re-capitalise and manage the entities efficiently.
“We have also received assurances that Fidelity Bank will participate fully in all the ongoing market initiatives aimed at improving the sector (National Mass Metering Programme).’’
The statement said in the interim, NERC and BPE met on an emergency basis and activated the Business Continuity Process and appointed interim Managing Directors in the affected DISCOs.
They are Ahmad Dangana, Kano Disco, Henry Ajagbawa, Benin Disco, and Yusuf Yahaya, Kaduna Disco.
“Also, with the takeover of Ibadan DISCO by AMCON, the BPE has obtained approval from NERC to appoint Kingsley Achife as the interim managing director. In a temporary capacity, the leadership of AMCON will be a placeholder board for the Ibadan franchise”.
“Ahmed Kuru will chair the board, Eberechukwu Uneze and Aminu Ismail as members, while Oluwaseyi Akinwale will represent the interest of the government on the board alongside the director-general of BPE.
“Lastly, we are re-structuring the Management and Board of Port Harcourt DISCO to forestall the imminent insolvency of the entity.
“As a condition for support to the entity to meet its market obligations, Iboroma Akpana will take over as the Chairman of the Board. Emmanuel Okotete, Eyo Ekpo, Ismaila Shuaibu and the director-general of BPE will form the interim Board. ‘’
It said Benson Uwheru would take over as the Managing Director of PHEDC as part of the changes.
According to the statement, the government will support the activation of emergency funds through the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility.
This according to the statement is to support the entity, while it goes through restructuring and repositioning to serve the citizens of the franchise area better.
“We are working with the Minister of Power to ensure no service disruptions during these transitions. We remain committed to supporting the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to serve Nigerians better,’’ it said.
