Electric utility workers in Lagos disconnected service to landlord Nkeiru Ejiro despite her presentation of receipts showing 70,000 naira in payments, forcing her to contact federal consumer protection officials and company executives before power was restored. The distribution company employees arrived at her Egbeda property demanding bill verification, then cut electricity even after reviewing documentation of her September 2025 payment made one day earlier.
Utility customers across Nigeria face similar treatment from the 11 distribution firms operating nationally, with aggressive billing practices and unauthorized disconnections occurring regularly, according to consumer advocates. Another Lagos resident received a 1 million naira penalty notice for alleged energy theft before an investigation confirmed the prepaid meter had been installed properly by company technicians. Barrister Kunle Oloyin from Consumer Advocacy Platform argues that enforcement agencies should impose harsher penalties against utility representatives who abuse their authority, noting that affected customers often pay unwarranted fees rather than endure lengthy appeals while living without electricity.
Utility customers across Nigeria face similar treatment from the 11 distribution firms operating nationally, with aggressive billing practices and unauthorized disconnections occurring regularly, according to consumer advocates. Another Lagos resident received a 1 million naira penalty notice for alleged energy theft before an investigation confirmed the prepaid meter had been installed properly by company technicians. Barrister Kunle Oloyin from Consumer Advocacy Platform argues that enforcement agencies should impose harsher penalties against utility representatives who abuse their authority, noting that affected customers often pay unwarranted fees rather than endure lengthy appeals while living without electricity.
