The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Engr. Francis Agoha, has said that the resilience and strategic overhaul of the company’s leadership have triggered significant progress in Nigeria’s power sector, reversing years of underperformance.
Agoha disclosed this at a media briefing in Ibadan, marking his one-year anniversary in office, where he highlighted the milestones recorded since his appointment in May 2024.
He explained that when IBEDC emerged in 2013 from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), it inherited decades of systemic dysfunction — including dilapidated infrastructure, a poorly metered customer base, tariff shortfalls, and billing inefficiencies.
“The challenges we inherited were enormous,” Agoha noted. “From erratic load allocation to an inefficient revenue cycle, it was clear that only radical reform and disciplined leadership could reposition IBEDC as a leader in the power sector.”
According to him, broader macroeconomic instability, such as inflation and policy shifts, further compounded IBEDC’s early struggles. However, with a new Board and management structure installed in July 2024, the company launched what Agoha described as “a bold, pragmatic, and customer-first turnaround agenda.”
Under his leadership, IBEDC has reportedly transitioned from a loss-making entity into a profitable enterprise, with the company now recognized by industry players as Nigeria’s most improved distribution company.
Among the critical reforms, Agoha cited aggressive metering as a top priority. “As of 2024, only 43% of our over two million customers were metered. We are on course to surpass 60% metering coverage by the end of 2025,” he said, noting that metering was crucial to reducing estimated billing and customer disputes.
He also pointed to the introduction of a WhatsApp-powered Customer Care platform, personally championed by his office, as a major step in improving user engagement. “Our customers now have direct, instant access to support. This has enhanced satisfaction, and it shows in the customer service awards we’ve won recently.”
Energy theft remains a major challenge, with IBEDC reporting over 8,000 cases between January and October 2024 — ranging from illegal reconnections to meter bypasses. To tackle this, the company has bolstered its Revenue Protection Team and partnered with the Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences (SIPTEO).
“We are not just identifying defaulters. We are prosecuting them,” Agoha stated, stressing that energy theft undermines investment and compromises service delivery.
In the first quarter of 2025, IBEDC added two new 33kV feeders (Iperu and Joju) and three 11kV feeders (Offa Commercial, Igbayilola, and Technical), which have significantly improved supply stability in key areas.
“These upgrades are part of our long-term network improvement plan to boost electricity access and reliability across our franchise areas,” the MD explained.
The success of IBEDC’s strategic reset, Agoha said, offers a blueprint for other distribution companies in the sector. “We’ve demonstrated that with focus, integrity, and innovation, performance is possible even under tough macroeconomic conditions.”
He also called on regulators, investors, and other stakeholders to maintain their support for reform-minded distribution companies that are genuinely working to deliver value to customers.
IBEDC’s trajectory, he noted, reflects not just operational efficiency, but also improved financial discipline and a commitment to customer satisfaction — critical factors in the broader goal of strengthening Nigeria’s power value chain.
With aggressive metering campaigns, improved infrastructure, digital customer engagement, and zero tolerance for energy theft, IBEDC is staking a claim as a national model of transformation in Nigeria’s electricity distribution landscape.