Ikeja Electric Apologises Seven Times in Nine Days as Band A Customers Miss 20-Hour Supply Promise

Ikeja Electric has issued seven public apologies in nine days for failing to deliver the 20 hours of daily electricity promised to customers on Band A feeders. The notices were published on the company's official X handle between October 27 and November 4, 2026.

The repeated shortfalls hit households and businesses in parts of Lagos that pay premium tariffs in exchange for more reliable supply.

Five apologies in five days

A review of the company's public communications shows Ikeja Electric issued five apologies between October 27 and October 31, then two more notices in November.

In its latest statement on November 4, the DisCo admitted it fell short of the minimum supply requirement for November 2 and November 3. That notice came a day after a similar apology on November 3, suggesting the supply problems persisted despite repeated assurances.

The October 27 statement had already acknowledged disruptions affecting customers on October 25 and October 26.

The notices were not isolated incidents. They point to a pattern of supply shortfalls across different feeders on the Ikeja Electric network. Some affected feeders reportedly recorded no electricity at all for two consecutive days, while others got far fewer hours than the minimum requirement.

What is causing the shortfall

Ikeja Electric has blamed the disruptions on grid instability, network faults, transformer limitations and maintenance activities. The company has also cited reduced allocation from the national grid as a reason it cannot meet customer supply expectations.

Under Nigeria's service-based tariff arrangement, Band A customers are entitled to at least 20 hours of electricity daily. The shortfalls matter because this category pays the highest tariffs on the promise of improved reliability.

For homes and businesses, the gap means spending on generators, diesel and inverters on top of the grid bill they already pay.

Compensation and the wider picture

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has previously introduced compensation arrangements for eligible Band A customers affected by supply shortfalls. These include prepaid electricity credits and postpaid billing adjustments.

Ikeja Electric, which covers much of Lagos State, is not alone in explaining cuts. Five electricity distribution companies have issued separate statements on power cuts and supply reductions affecting customers in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun and other states, citing grid shortfalls, technical faults and scheduled maintenance.

For now, attention is moving from the apologies to whether customers will see measurable improvement in supply, and whether those eligible will actually receive the compensation NERC provides for.

The pressure cuts both ways for the naira. Every hour of grid power a Lagos business does not get is money moved to diesel and petrol generators, and that cost feeds straight into the price of goods and services.