The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has officially commissioned a self-service ATM-enabled electricity payment kiosk in partnership with FUCIL Datatech Limited (FDL), marking a significant step in its digital transformation drive aimed at improving customer experience and revenue efficiency.
The new kiosk allows customers to pay electricity bills securely, vend tokens instantly, and manage their accounts with minimal human interaction, offering round-the-clock convenience.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta, managing director of the company, described the initiative as another milestone in the company’s customer-first vision.
“Whatever strategy we adopt, whatever partnership we enter, the first thing on our minds is the customer. How does it affect them? How effective is it? How happy will it make them? Once we get that right, everything else falls into place,” he said.
According to him, the self-service kiosk reflects KEDCO’s commitment to digitisation and innovation, adding that change remains constant in the power sector and must be embraced to build a more responsive distribution company.
He emphasised that convenience is central to modern service delivery, noting that customers should not experience unnecessary difficulty in accessing essential services such as electricity payments.
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“This is just the beginning. We intend to expand these vending tools across our franchise states so that every customer can experience this innovation — a new, seamless way of paying for electricity,” Shuaibu-Jimeta added, reaffirming the company’s openness to strategic partnerships that strengthen operations and enhance service delivery.
In his remarks, Chioma Iwuagwu, managing director of FUCIL Datatech Limited,said the deployment aligns with her company’s mandate to deliver secure, scalable and innovative digital solutions that enhance institutional efficiency while elevating customer experience.
She explained that the kiosk provides a secure platform for electricity bill payments, instant token vending, account management and other essential services with speed and reliability.
“Our goal is to reduce congestion, minimise human interference in financial transactions, shorten turnaround time and strengthen revenue assurance mechanisms,” Iwuagwu said.
She commended KEDCO’s leadership for its forward-thinking approach and strong commitment to digital transformation, stressing that electricity remains critical not only to economic growth but also to social development, public safety and national security.
“We are proud to support KEDCO in building a robust digital infrastructure that optimises workflow and gives customers easy, secure access to payment services,” she said, describing the partnership as one grounded in trust and a shared vision of customer-focused service delivery.
Also speaking at the event, Alkasim Uthman, KEDCO’s Chief Finance Officer, said the initiative was a practical response to a fundamental question in the power sector: how easy it is for customers to purchase electricity in real-life situations.
“Service is not defined by what we generate; it is defined by what the customer experiences,” he stated.
Uthman noted that the self-service machine removes friction from transactions, giving customers greater control and respecting their time.
“When someone walks up to this machine at 9 a.m., 11 p.m., or 6 a.m., and completes a transaction instantly, that is convenience. That is dignity,” he said.
He added that every token generated instantly and every payment digitally recorded enhances transparency and strengthens trust — a critical asset in an industry grappling with liquidity pressures, revenue gaps and operational strain.
“This initiative improves customer experience, strengthens revenue assurance and advances our digital transformation journey — all at once,” Uthman explained.
He reassured staff that technology would not replace jobs but rather empower employees by freeing them from routine processes and enabling them to focus on more complex operational issues.
The kiosk is expected to serve as a scalable model for deployment in markets, commercial hubs and other high-traffic areas across the states under KEDCO’s franchise, broadening access to electricity payment services.
Industry observers say the move aligns with broader reforms in Nigeria’s power distribution landscape, where distribution companies are increasingly leveraging technology to close revenue gaps, reduce cash handling risks and improve customer satisfaction.
For KEDCO and FUCIL Datatech, the commissioning represents more than a technological upgrade — it signals a shared commitment to building a more responsive and technologically advanced electricity distribution ecosystem, where customers can access secure, reliable and convenient payment services at any time of the day.
As KEDCO continues its incremental but steady digital transformation journey, company executives expressed confidence that initiatives such as the self-service kiosk will not only streamline operations but also deepen public confidence in the utility provider.
