Nigeria: Consumer Protection Commission Seals Ikeja Headquarters For Violating Consumers’ Rights

Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Thursday sealed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric (IE) for continuous violations of consumer rights, specifically for failing to comply with directives issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the FCCPC.

NERC had issued a binding decision directing Ikeja Electric to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into twenty non-Maximum Demand accounts to recognise each of the nineteen residential units—and a service point owned by a complainant—as separate customer units and to provide the required metering and connection.

However, Ikeja Electric refused to carry out the decision.

As a result of this non-compliance, the complainant has been without electricity supply for more than two and a half years, despite paying all charges requested by Ikeja Electric and meeting every obligation.

The prolonged outage has prevented the complainant from putting the nineteen residential units to use.

According to the Commission, it engaged Ikeja Electric several times and notified the company of the complaint and the outstanding NERC decision.

“In April 2025, we issued a directive that set out the steps required and the timelines for compliance. No action was taken.

“On 2 October 2025, the Commission issued a Compliance Notice requiring full compliance within seven business days. The company still did not comply,” the FCCPC said in a statement.

Providing the legal basis for its action, the FCCPC cited Section 17 of its establishing Act, which sets out the Commission’s functions, including resolving complaints, issuing directives, and taking enforcement action where breaches persist.

Section 18 empowers the Commission to ensure compliance with the Act, including taking enforcement steps such as sealing premises where an undertaking’s conduct has created or prolonged consumer harm.

Section 124 prohibits harassment, coercion, undue influence, or unfair tactics in the supply of goods or services. Withholding or frustrating access to a service in ways that cause avoidable hardship falls under this prohibition.

Section 150 allows the Commission to issue a Compliance Notice specifying the steps an undertaking must take to remedy a contravention and to escalate action where the undertaking ignores the notice. Section 155 makes it an offence for an undertaking to infringe consumer rights.

Together, these provisions provide the statutory basis for Thursday’s action. Ikeja Electric’s sustained refusal to carry out a lawful regulatory decision—combined with the prolonged deprivation of electricity to nineteen residential units—meets the threshold for intervention.

“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,” the FCCPC said.

The Commission reaffirmed that consumers are entitled to fair treatment and timely access to essential services, and it will continue to enforce the law to protect these rights and ensure service providers meet their obligations.