The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has ordered the closure of the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) headquarters in Alausa, Lagos, following allegations of consumer rights violations and failure to adhere to regulatory directives.
The closure, confirmed in a statement on Thursday by Bola Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigation at the FCCPC, is the result of a protracted enforcement process.
Adeyinka emphasized that the action was taken after repeated engagements with Ikeja Electric and multiple opportunities were afforded to the company to align its operations with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
“Sealing this facility is a proportionate enforcement measure taken only after repeated engagement and several opportunities for voluntary compliance,” Adeyinka said.
He added that the seal would remain until Ikeja Electric fully implements the directives issued by both the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the FCCPC, and provides formal evidence of compliance.
In response, Ikeja Electric’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, stated that the company is actively engaging the Commission to resolve the issue swiftly.
He attributed the dispute to a singular case in which a customer requested multiple meters for a single property.
Okotie explained that the property was initially classified as a hotel and serviced by a single maximum-demand meter.
However, after the property was converted to residential use, the customer applied for 20 non-maximum-demand meters at the same location.
“The conversion process is complex, and we have communicated the details to the FCCPC,” he said.
Acknowledging that the headquarters’ closure could disrupt business operations, Okotie assured that the company is taking steps to maintain uninterrupted electricity supply for its customers.
“Our focus is to ensure supply is not disrupted as long as we have supply on our feeders,” he added.
He also reiterated Ikeja Electric’s commitment to amicably resolving the matter with the consumer protection authority.
The recent enforcement action follows a broader warning issued by the FCCPC earlier this year to Ikeja Electric and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) regarding the replacement of Unistar prepaid meters.
The Commission cited non-compliance with directives from NERC, which mandated that power distribution companies prioritise metering for previously unmetered consumers under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) and adhere strictly to guidelines when replacing faulty or obsolete meters.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Tunji Bello, had emphasised that the directives aim to protect consumer rights while ensuring orderly and fair electricity distribution practices.
The current closure of IKEDC’s headquarters underscores the regulator’s willingness to enforce compliance and protect consumer interests in Nigeria’s electricity sector, signaling stricter oversight for power distribution companies across the country.
