An Associate Professor in the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS) at Lagos State University (LASU), Tunde Akanni, has raised concerns about alleged extortion by the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC).
In a plea directed to the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Tunji Bello, and the General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo, Akanni called for immediate action to address what he described as “rampaging extortion” of customers in Ikeja.
Akanni alleged that IKEDC had been deactivating UNISTAR pre-paid meters serving residents of Lagos State Government quarters at 47 Sobo Arobiodu Street, Ikeja GRA, despite clear FCCPC directives prohibiting interference with such meters.
“What they do is await the exhaustion of the running credits on meters, allow customers to recharge their cards, but ensure they are unable to reload. Once this happens, they claim the meter is bad and due for replacement,” Akanni explained.
He accused the electricity distribution company of employing coercive tactics to force customers into buying new meters at exorbitant prices.
“They deceitfully convince customers to allow the retrieval of the UNISTAR meters. Once hope begins to fade, customers are compelled to pay arbitrary bills or make desperate reconnection requests,” he said.
Akanni further revealed that the situation had led to inflated electricity bills, with some residents being billed as high as ₦270,000, a figure far exceeding their normal consumption levels.
Recounting his personal experience, Akanni said IKEDC operatives retrieved his UNISTAR meter on December 27, shortly after he had recharged it with ₦25,000. He noted that he was unable to reload the meter due to what he termed deliberate deactivation.
“Despite citing the FCCPC directive to them, I was told to apply online for a new meter at a cost of ₦120,000. When I visited their office to follow up, I was informed that their portal was down, and arbitrary billing would continue indefinitely,” he lamented.
The FCCPC had previously warned IKEDC and other electricity distribution companies against unauthorised replacements of UNISTAR meters, stressing that such actions violated regulatory directives.
Despite these warnings, Akanni noted that IKEDC continued the practice, even targeting residents of government quarters.
“If they have the effrontery to subject LASG employees to this embarrassing situation, one can imagine what helpless private citizens are going through,” he stated.
Calling on FCCPC and LASCOPA to take immediate steps to protect consumers, Akanni said, “This onslaught against lawful customers must be stalled. Your intervention is urgently needed to restore fairness and transparency in electricity supply.”
Efforts to obtain comments from IKEDC were unsuccessful as of the time of this report.
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