Fidelity Bank has taken over the boards of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO, Benin, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), and Kaduna Electric.

Also, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has been taken over by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The distribution companies were taken over by Fidelity Bank after the bank initiated action to take over the boards of the DisCos and exercise the rights on the shares.

This was made known via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Tuesday by the Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh; and Executive Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sanusi Garba.

The statement read: “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 and that they have 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% shareholding of government in the DISCOs.

“Fidelity Bank has informed us that the new Board members of the affected DISCOs will be as follows: Kano DISCO: Hasan Tukur (Chairman), Nelson Ahaneku (Member), Engr. Rabiu Suleiman (Member), Benin DISCO: KC Akuma (Chairman), Adeola Ijose (Member), Charles Onwera (Member), Kaduna DISCO: Abbas Jega (Chairman), Ameenu Abubakar (Member), Marlene Ngoyi (Member).

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“BPE has nominated Bashir Gwandu (Kano), Yomi Adeyemi (Benin), and Umar Abdullahi (Kaduna) as independent Directors to represent Government’s 40% interest in the three DISCOs respectively, during this 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-capitalize 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 (e.g. National Mass Metering Program).

“In the interim, NERC and BPE met on an Emergency Basis and activated the Business Continuity Process and have appointed interim Managing Directors in the affected DISCOs. “Kano Disco – Ahmad Dangana Benin Disco – Henry Ajagbawa, Kaduna Disco– Yusuf Usman Yahaya.”

The statement added: “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 – Chair, Eberechukwu Uneze – Member, Aminu Ismail – Member). Oluwaseyi Akinwale will represent the interest of Government on the Board alongside the DG of BPE.”

It noted that the government was restructuring the management and board of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) to forestall the imminent insolvency of the utility

“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 DG of BPE will form the interim Board. Mr. Benson Uwheru will take over as the Managing Director of PHEDC as part of the changes.

“Government will support the activation of Emergency funds through the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilization Facility to support the entity while it goes through restructuring and repositioning to serve the citizens of the franchise area better,” the statement read.

The Star