FCCPC Shuts Down Ikeja Electric Facility Over 2.5-Year Consumer Rights Violation

In a major crackdown on regulatory non-compliance within Nigeria’s electricity sector, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the facilities of Ikeja Electric, citing persistent violations of consumer rights and failure to obey industry directives.

The enforcement action — announced Thursday by the FCCPC’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Bola Adeyinka — marks one of the Commission’s strongest moves this year under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

According to Adeyinka, the sealing became “a proportionate enforcement measure taken only after repeated engagement and several opportunities for voluntary compliance.” She added that the facility would remain shut until Ikeja Electric provides verifiable written evidence that all regulatory directives have been fully implemented.

FCCPC Shuts Down Ikeja Electric Facility

The Complaint That Sparked the Enforcement

At the heart of the dispute is a long-standing complaint brought before the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). After reviewing the case, NERC issued a binding directive ordering Ikeja Electric to:

• Unbundle a Maximum Demand (MD) account into 20 separate non-MD accounts,

• Recognize 19 residential units and one service point as distinct customer entities,

• Provide appropriate metering, connection, and billing structures for each unit.

Despite the binding nature of NERC’s ruling, the FCCPC revealed that Ikeja Electric failed to comply, leaving the complainant without electricity supply for more than 2½ years — even after fulfilling all required payments.

The prolonged blackout has reportedly prevented the property owner from utilizing any of the 19 residential units, resulting in significant financial and operational loss.

Multiple Notifications, Zero Compliance

The FCCPC detailed an extended timeline of engagement:

• April 2025: Commission issues clear directives with compliance steps and timelines.

• October 2, 2025: FCCPC issues a Compliance Notice demanding full compliance within seven business days.

• Result: No action taken by Ikeja Electric.

The Commission stressed that sealing the facility was a last resort after the company repeatedly ignored both NERC’s decision and FCCPC’s compliance notices.

FCCPC Shuts Down Ikeja Electric Facility

Ikeja Electric Yet to Respond

As of the time of this report, Ikeja Electric has not issued a statement or responded publicly to the enforcement action.

The development has sparked renewed debate about:

• The persistent power supply challenges in Lagos,

• Utility companies’ compliance culture,

• And the growing role of the FCCPC in enforcing consumer protection across critical sectors.

Regulatory observers say this may be a signal of tougher oversight coming to Nigeria’s electricity distribution ecosystem.

Written by Boom RadioNG