The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the corporate headquarters of Ikeja Electric in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, citing alleged non-compliance and violations of consumer rights.
The action, which took place on Thursday morning, was reportedly carried out in the presence of security personnel, with staff asked to vacate the building, according to a video by Channels Television.
The power distribution company confirmed the development, assuring the public that it is working with the FCCPC to ensure the shutdown does not affect electricity supply to customers.
FCCPC’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Bola Adeyinka, explained that the enforcement followed repeated engagement attempts that failed to achieve compliance. “Sealing this facility is a proportionate enforcement measure taken only after repeated engagement and several opportunities for voluntary compliance. The seal will remain in place until Ikeja Electric complies fully with the directives issued by both NERC and the FCCPC and provides written evidence of that compliance,” he said.
The commission said the action relates to a binding decision by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) requiring Ikeja Electric to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into 20 separate non-Maximum Demand accounts. The directive was meant to recognise 19 residential units and a service point owned by a complainant as individual customer units, with proper metering and connection provided.
According to the FCCPC, Ikeja Electric failed to implement the decision, leaving the complainant without electricity for over two and a half years despite paying all required charges. “The lack of electricity has prevented the complainant from putting the 19 residential units to use,” the commission stated.
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Repeated engagement efforts by the FCCPC, including a directive issued in April 2025 and a Compliance Notice on October 2 requiring full compliance within seven business days, reportedly went unheeded.
Ikeja Electric’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, described the matter as a compliance issue that the company is addressing. “It has to do with a compliance issue that was raised by the commission to us. And more like what we’re to do. But, of course, in the expected action, we had certain reservations based on our own internal operations and how it will work out. And so, we wrote back to the commission. But somehow, maybe our reason was not taken, and they decided to make the visit,” he said.
Okotie reassured that electricity distribution to customers continues uninterrupted despite the sealing. “As a responsible organisation, also knowing the fact that our service is essential, especially at this critical time, our commitment to continue to distribute electricity to consumers and our customers remains intact. Even though the headquarters premises have been sealed off, we are also ensuring effective coordination of all our operational centres so that an issue involving a minority of people does not affect the majority of customers who need supply,” he added.
He described the FCCPC’s approach as unfortunate, noting that the situation could have been resolved without media attention. “There are better ways we would have handled this disagreement outside of what has happened, but it is what it is. We will come out of it as always. That’s the situation now,” Okotie said.
On the potential impact of the seal if it persists, he stressed the company’s efforts to prevent any disruption. “We pray it doesn’t, but we don’t want it to affect operations. If we have supply from the TCN, we have to distribute it. So, we are appealing for a voice of reasoning, that we can resolve this issue without letting it affect other customers within the network,” he concluded.