The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Thursday sealed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric in Lagos over alleged non-compliance with regulatory directives and violations of consumer rights.
The enforcement operation, conducted in the presence of security officials, saw staff ordered out of the building as FCCPC officers placed the Alausa office under lock and key. Channels Television captured the moment officials sealed the premises.
Ikeja Electric confirmed the development, saying the company was engaging with the FCCPC to prevent any disruption to customer service despite the closure of its head office.
FCCPC’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Bola Adeyinka, said the action followed repeated engagements and several opportunities given to the company to comply with a binding decision issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Adeyinka explained that NERC had earlier ordered Ikeja Electric to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into 20 separate non-MD accounts. The directive required the electricity company to recognise 19 residential units and a service point owned by a complainant as individual customer units and to provide adequate metering and connection.
According to the FCCPC, Ikeja Electric failed to implement the directive, leaving the affected consumer without electricity for over two and a half years despite meeting all financial obligations. The lack of supply prevented the complainant from making use of the 19 residential units.
The commission said it issued an April 2025 directive outlining steps and timelines for compliance, followed by an October 2, 2025 Compliance Notice giving seven business days for full implementation. Ikeja Electric allegedly did not act on any of the notices.
Ikeja Electric Responds
The Head of Corporate Communications at Ikeja Electric, Kingsley Okotie, said the issue centred on a compliance directive from the FCCPC. He noted that the company had responded to the commission but held certain reservations based on internal operational concerns.
He acknowledged that the FCCPC acted within its legal powers and said Ikeja Electric allowed the enforcement to proceed. Despite the sealing of the headquarters, Okotie assured customers that electricity distribution across the network would continue without interruption.
He described the commission’s approach as unfortunate, arguing that the dispute could have been resolved without media involvement. Okotie said the company was working to ensure that prolonged closure of the office would not affect operations, and appealed for a “voice of reasoning” to prevent the issue from disrupting services to other consumers.
