In a bold enforcement move, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the corporate headquarters of Ikeja Electric following a prolonged blackout affecting 19 residential units for more than two and a half years — despite full payment of electricity bills by the affected customer.
What Happened?
On Thursday morning, FCCPC enforcement officers, accompanied by security agents, sealed Ikeja Electric’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, as part of an escalation in consumer rights enforcement. The action came after the electricity distribution company failed to address a complaint regarding continued lack of power supply to multiple homes — even after all financial and regulatory obligations were fulfilled by the complainant.
According to the FCCPC, this drastic measure was taken after repeated engagements and compliance deadlines were ignored by Ikeja Electric, in breach of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
Why the Shutdown?
The core of the dispute relates to a directive from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which ordered Ikeja Electric to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into 20 separate customer accounts, properly meter them, and restore electricity. The affected customer — owning 19 residential units — had complied with all requirements, yet the company failed to implement the directive, resulting in a lack of electricity for over 30 months.
FCCPC’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Bola Adeyinka, emphasised that sealing the property was a proportionate enforcement measure only after numerous opportunities for voluntary compliance were disregarded. The seal will remain in place until Ikeja Electric demonstrates full compliance with both FCCPC and NERC orders.
Ikeja Electric’s Response
Ikeja Electric acknowledged the enforcement action but described it as a compliance issue under active discussion with the FCCPC. Kingsley Okotie, Head of Corporate Communications, stressed the company’s commitment to ensuring continued electricity distribution and said the sealing of the headquarters would not disrupt broader operations.
Okotie also expressed that the situation could have been resolved through private negotiations, and welcomed ongoing engagement to resolve the matter without affecting other customers on the network.
Broader Context
This development shines a spotlight on ongoing frustrations among Lagos residents regarding power supply reliability. In recent months, some communities have protested prolonged blackouts and rising tariffs, demanding better service and fair pricing.
What This Means for Consumers
- 🛠 Consumer Rights Enforcement: The FCCPC’s actions reaffirm the regulator’s readiness to enforce compliance and protect consumers against prolonged service failures.
- ⚡ Service Accountability: Ikeja Electric’s delayed compliance highlights challenges within Nigeria’s electricity distribution framework and underscores the need for transparent accountability.
- 📣 Public Confidence: The case may strengthen public confidence in regulatory bodies to act decisively when service providers fail to meet obligations.
References
- FCCPC shuts Ikeja Electric over 30-month blackout in 19 homes. Punch Nigeria (2025, December 12). Retrieved from https://punchng.com/fccpc-shuts-ikeja-electric-over-30-month-blackout-in-19-homes/
📌 Context & Framework
- Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018. (Nigeria Federal Government Legal Text) — Establishes consumer rights protections and enforcement powers of FCCPC.
- Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Consumer Protection & Compliance Directives. (Official NERC guidelines and orders to DisCos) — Available via NERC official disclosures.
📌 Sectoral Reports on Nigerian Power Challenges
- Typical reporting on power supply reliability and DisCo performance in Nigeria (e.g., analysis articles from Premium Times, The Guardian Nigeria, Vanguard, etc.) — These provide background on distribution issues that frame why FCCPC action matters.
📌 Regulator References
- Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Official Releases. (Commission’s statements and enforcement summaries) — Often published on FCCPC website and social media channels.
