Tunde Akanni, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at Lagos State University (LASU), has accused the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) of extortion and non-compliance with regulatory directives.
Akanni appealed to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) for urgent intervention, alleging that IKEDC has been deactivating UNISTAR pre-paid meters in defiance of FCCPC orders.
“They await the exhaustion of running credits on meters, allow customers to recharge, and then block reloading, claiming the meter is faulty and needs replacement,” Akanni explained, describing the tactic as a calculated effort to compel customers to purchase new meters at exorbitant prices.
Akanni, who resides in Lagos State Government quarters at 47 Sobo Arobiodu Street, Ikeja GRA, recounted his experience last December when IKEDC operatives retrieved his UNISTAR meter after he recharged ₦25,000 but was unable to reload due to deactivation. “Despite citing the FCCPC directive, I was told to apply online for a new meter at ₦120,000. At their office, I was informed their portal was down, and arbitrary billing would continue indefinitely,” he lamented.
Residents have reported inflated electricity bills, with some receiving charges as high as ₦270,000, far beyond their actual consumption. “They deceitfully convince customers to allow meter retrieval, leaving them with no option but to pay arbitrary bills or make desperate reconnection requests,” Akanni alleged.
The FCCPC had previously warned IKEDC and other distribution companies against unauthorized meter replacements, yet Akanni claims these practices persist, even targeting government quarters. “If they can subject LASG employees to this embarrassment, one can imagine the plight of helpless private citizens,” he said.
Akanni called on FCCPC and LASCOPA to act swiftly to protect consumers. “This onslaught against lawful customers must be stalled. Your intervention is urgently needed to restore fairness and transparency in electricity supply,” he appealed.
Efforts to obtain comments from IKEDC were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
