FCCPC moves against ikeja electric in escalating row over metering, customer rights

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has shut down the offices of Ikeja Electric after accusing the power firm of flouting a series of consumer-protection directives.

The agency’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Bola Adeyinka, said the enforcement followed months of warnings and repeated chances for the company to comply with regulatory orders. According to her, sealing the facility was a “necessary and proportionate step” taken only after Ikeja Electric ignored multiple intervention efforts.

The seal will remain in place until the company provides documented proof that it has fully complied with directives issued by both the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the FCCPC.

The dispute centres on a binding decision by NERC requiring Ikeja Electric to break down a Maximum Demand account into 20 separate non-Maximum Demand accounts, recognising 19 residential units and a service point owned by a complainant as individual customers. The company was also ordered to provide proper metering and connection for each unit.

However, investigators say Ikeja Electric simply refused to carry out the order. As a result, the complainant has been left without electricity for more than two and a half years, despite paying every charge demanded by the company and fulfilling all obligations. The lack of power meant the owner could not use any of the 19 residential units.

Officials said they repeatedly engaged the company and reminded it of the outstanding regulatory decision. In April 2025, the FCCPC issued a directive with a clear compliance timeline, yet no action was taken. On 2 October 2025, the Commission served a Compliance Notice giving the firm seven business days to act, but again, Ikeja Electric failed to respond.