By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has dissolved the board of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDC) and appointed its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abubakar Umar Hashidu, as administrator for an initial six-month period, citing severe financial, operational and regulatory failures.
The regulatory intervention, contained in Order No. NERC/2026/086, issued on Monday, took effect from August 10, 2026, and followed an inquiry and consultations with key industry stakeholders, including the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
According to NERC, KAEDC was in a “grave situation” characterised by prolonged regulatory and market default, inadequate investment, weak operational and commercial performance, insufficient assets relative to its liabilities and an inability to present a credible pathway to sustainable recovery.
The Commission said the DisCo’s cumulative market obligations since privatisation stood at approximately N456.5 billion as of May 2026, comprising N415.5 billion owed to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and N41 billion owed to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
