Yemisi Izuora
Ikeja Electric Plc has urged customers to stay away from unauthorised electricians and immediately report unsafe activities around its electrical infrastructure, following recent incidents involving fatalities linked to unauthorised electrical work.
The warning was issued during the company’s September Virtual Stakeholder Engagement, a monthly platform through which Ikeja Electric educates customers, provides operational updates and addresses issues affecting service delivery.
Speaking during the session, Olaniyi Olayiwola, Head, Quality, Health, Safety & Environment, cautioned customers against allowing unqualified or unauthorised persons to climb Ikeja Electric poles, work on power lines, tamper with electrical installations or carry out illegal connections.
He disclosed that recent incidents had resulted in the loss of lives of individuals attempting to undertake unauthorised electrical activities on or around the company’s network.
“Please do not engage electricians to climb Ikeja Electric poles. If you see someone carrying out unsafe activities around our infrastructure, kindly report to us,” Olayiwola said.
He stressed that customers should not attempt to intervene directly when they observe unsafe electrical activities, but should instead contact Ikeja Electric through its designated safety emergency channels.
Olayiwola also urged customers and communities to maintain adequate clearance around high-voltage power lines, noting that encroachment on electricity infrastructure and inadequate right-of-way remain significant safety risks.
The engagement also provided customers with updates on the company’s metering programme, including new meter prices and the ongoing Meter Asset Provider (MAP) refund process.
Ikeja Electric explained that eligible customers who previously paid for their meters would receive refunds through credits applied to their vending transactions over the approved refund period.
Customers can also monitor their refund status online using their meter number or account number. The refund dashboard provides details including the meter cost, refund count, monthly refund amount, total refund received and last refund date, as well as the applicable refund token sent to the customer’s registered phone number or email address.
Customers with concerns about their MAP refunds were advised to use Ikeja Electric’s official complaint channels or visit their nearest undertaking office for assistance.
Speaking on the importance of customer engagement, Kingsley Okotie, Head of Corporate Communications, urged customers to rely on the company’s official communication and complaint channels for accurate information and timely resolution of concerns.
“Our engagement with customers goes beyond providing information. It is about ensuring that our customers have the knowledge and channels they need to stay safe, seek assistance and get their concerns properly addressed,” Okotie said.
The September engagement reinforces Ikeja Electric’s commitment to customer safety, transparency and continuous education, while strengthening collaboration with customers and communities across its network.