Just In: NAEDL, AEDC Commit to Boosting Power Supply in Nasarawa

The Managing Director of Nasarawa Electricity Distribution Limited (NAEDL), Veronica Atama Abah, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Blessing Ogbe, have reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing electricity provision, elevating customer satisfaction, and bridging the metering deficit across Nasarawa State. These assurances were given on Wednesday at the NAEDL Stakeholder Engagement Forum, hosted in the Keffi Local Government Area of the state. The forum, themed “Powering Nasarawa Together: Shared Responsibility, Shared Solutions,” gathered a diverse group of participants including government officials, regulatory bodies, traditional rulers, security agencies, members of the academic community, business leaders, media professionals, and electricity consumers. The objective was to deliberate on existing challenges in power distribution and devise practical remedies to improve service delivery within the state.

In her keynote address, NAEDL’s Managing Director, Veronica Atama Abah, revealed that the company currently caters to 233,807 customers throughout Nasarawa State. This figure comprises 175,321 metered customers and 58,486 unmetered customers. She further disclosed that through various metering initiatives, such as the National Mass Metering Programme, Meter Asset Financing, and Vendor Financing Schemes, a total of 35,039 meters have been successfully installed across the state. Abah reiterated NAEDL’s commitment to accelerating meter deployment, improving customer service, fostering stronger stakeholder engagement, and delivering more efficient electricity distribution services to residents.

However, the Managing Director highlighted several significant obstacles facing the company, including meter rejection, incomplete customer records, diversion of meters, vandalism, and the theft of electricity infrastructure. She stressed that NAEDL’s assets, such as transformers, feeders, poles, conductors, feeder pillars, and meters, are vital infrastructure that require collective protection from all stakeholders. Expressing deep concern over the increasing rate of vandalism, Abah implored residents and security agencies to collaborate in safeguarding electricity facilities across the state. She urged, “The vandalisation of our facilities is becoming too much. We are calling on everyone to cooperate with us. If you see something, say something. These assets belong to all of us and must be protected.”

Similarly, Blessing Ogbe, the Chief Executive Officer of AEDC, underscored the paramount importance of customers within the electricity value chain, noting that the power sector's success is heavily reliant on consumer satisfaction and cooperation. She pointed out that infrastructure vandalism remains a severe impediment to electricity distribution, explaining that criminals frequently target power installations for valuable materials like copper and aluminium. According to Ogbe, the destruction of electricity infrastructure not only impairs the operations of power companies but also deprives communities of dependable power access. She explained, “Without the people, there is no business. Customers are our most important stakeholders. Every act of vandalism affects our ability to provide quality service and impacts thousands of customers who depend on electricity daily.”

Pamela Chinemerem, the Head of Customer Experience for AEDC Nasarawa Zone, emphasized the critical role of customer engagement and dialogue, stating that consumer feedback is indispensable for enhancing service delivery. Earlier in the proceedings, the Emir of Keffi, Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, represented by the Kuyanbaya of Keffi, Ibrahim Maikasuwa, advocated for enhanced collaboration between power providers and host communities to ensure a consistent power supply. Our correspondent reported that forum participants shared their experiences and challenges, calling for quicker fault resolution, prompt replacement of damaged transformers, improved customer service, and expanded electricity access in underserved areas. Among the notable personalities present were Patricia Akawu, General Manager of Nasarawa Broadcasting Service; Mustapha Mohammed, Commissioner for Rural Electrification; Moses Arigu, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Development Affairs; Abubakar Bello, Chairman of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission; representatives from the State Investment and Development Agency; and officials of the State Electricity Board. The event concluded with renewed commitments from NAEDL, AEDC, government agencies, security institutions, traditional leaders, and consumers to collectively strive for better electricity supply and the protection of crucial power infrastructure throughout Nasarawa State.