AEDC targets turnaround with infrastructure upgrades, customer engagement

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced a wide-ranging transformation initiative aimed at revitalising its operations and enhancing customer satisfaction across its coverage areas.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement in Minna, Niger State, AEDC’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chijioke Okwuokenye, said the company’s strategy is focused on improving network reliability, educating customers, and upgrading infrastructure.

“The ability to educate and satisfy our customers lies at the heart of this transformation. We are investing in our workforce to ensure we have the right personnel to deliver on this ambition,” Okwuokenye stated.

He revealed that AEDC had already installed more than 6,150 electricity meters in Niger State under the Meter Asset Provider and Meter Acquisition Fund schemes. The company, he added, has also started reimbursing customers who paid for meters.

Okwuokenye acknowledged, however, that AEDC faces serious revenue losses in the region, primarily due to non-payment of electricity bills and energy theft.

Also addressing the gathering, Mr Sam Odekina, AEDC’s Chief Business Officer for Niger State, identified customer reluctance to pay for electricity consumed as a major hurdle.

“The most pressing issue we face is the widespread unwillingness of customers to pay for electricity. This is not simply a billing problem—it is a structural issue that deprives us of the funds required to maintain and upgrade our services,” Odekina explained.

He warned that the ongoing revenue shortfall continues to undermine service quality and poses safety risks due to deteriorating infrastructure.

Odekina also cited energy theft and vandalism as persistent challenges, resulting in substantial financial losses and undermining operational stability.

To tackle these issues, AEDC has scaled up its field operations, commissioning a new substation, refurbishing ageing infrastructure, and replacing defective equipment. According to Odekina, these efforts have already led to improved transparency in billing and higher levels of customer satisfaction.

The company reiterated its commitment to fostering stronger relationships with its customers and stakeholders, while working to provide a safer and more reliable electricity supply across the region.