The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has disclosed that poor service delivery by electricity distribution companies (DisCos) is by far the highest category of complaints received by the Commission over the years.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at a press briefing, the Acting Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Dr Adamu Abdullahi explained that “it is a well-known fact that inadequate supply of electricity is one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria, with huge implications for both national economic growth and the well-being of consumers.
“Consequently, complaints about poor service delivery by electricity distribution companies (DisCos) are by far the highest category of complaints received by FCCPC.
“The most common consumer complaints in the industry include exploitative billing, unlawful disconnection, non-metering of customers, lack of transformers, and other salient issues.
“Given the relevance of electricity as a critical utility, the Commission prioritized intervention in the industry to tackle prevailing issues and improve service delivery by implementing various programmes and initiatives aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the sector.
“To that end, the Commission, with the support of MacArthur Foundation, hosted two separate Electricity Consumer Complaint Resolution Platforms for four days each in Bauchi and Lagos for consumers under the franchise areas of Jos Electricity Distribution Company and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company respectively.
“The events provided the Commission, the electricity distribution companies, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) the opportunity to provide on-the-spot resolution to electricity consumer complaints. In addition, we have continued to routinely resolve electricity and other consumer complaints daily” he stated.
Abdullahi speaking further stated that in the last seven months, “the Commission actively worked to prevent anticompetitive practices, protect consumers, and foster a competitive market.
“Our efforts included enforcing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), reviewing mergers, conducting investigations, and engaging in consumer and business education, among others”.
He explained the actions on Fair Food Pricing and Enforcement Against Deceptive Practices.
“To address public concerns over soaring food prices, the FCCPC implemented measures to curb price gouging, promote fair competition, and protect consumers.
“We monitored markets, partnered with stakeholders, enforced pricing transparency, and sensitised consumers. We also took action against underweight bags of rice, the sale of expired goods, cement price hikes, substandard iron rods, and alleged discriminatory practices in a Chinese supermarket. These efforts underscore the government’s dedication to safeguarding Nigerian consumers and fostering a fair marketplace.
“The Commission is currently implementing data analysis techniques to systematically analyse consumer complaints o help in identifying patterns of unfair practices, leading to targeted interventions and improved consumer protection measures”.
Abdullahi said FCCPC conducted a series of merger reviews to prevent anticompetitive practices in mergers and acquisitions, helping to preserve consumer choices by preventing large companies from unnecessarily acquiring smaller competitors and restricting options.
“From inception, the Commission has received a total of 294 transactions, out of which 22 were approved in 2024, while 8 applications are currently being reviewed.
“As you can see from the foregoing, the Commission has been working tirelessly to promote competition and protect consumers to create a vibrant economy that benefits both businesses and Nigerians” he stated.
