Residents of Ilasamaja in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State have kicked against their alleged migration from Band B to Band A electricity supply by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), describing the move as “daylight robbery” and an unacceptable burden on low-income residents.

The angry residents gathered in large numbers at Agoro Bogunbolu Street, Ilasamaja, on Saturday, August 22, 2026, to protest what they described as an unjustified increase in electricity tariffs without corresponding improvement in power supply.

The Convener of the Ilasamaja Consumers Forum, Comrade Kadri Rasheed Adebayo, urged residents to remain united and prepare for what he described as a serious battle to protect consumers from exploitation.

“We are here to express our dissatisfaction with EKEDC over the illegal migration of our feeder from Band B to Band A without notice and without meeting the required standard for such migration,” Comrade Adebayo said.

He cited provisions of the Lagos Electricity Law 2018 and the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) Customer Protection Regulations 2023, arguing that consumers should not be moved to a higher tariff classification without evidence that the required service standards had been met.

According to him, the regulations require compliance with the minimum service hours for the relevant band for three consecutive months before customers can be reclassified.

Adebayo alleged that Ilasamaja had not even enjoyed the required service standard under Band B before the community was moved to Band A.

He said: “EKEDC has to supply power for 20 hours under Band A to our community for three consecutive months before migrating us from Band B to Band A. They have not even met the required hours for Band B. This is totally unacceptable, and we are ready to take this struggle to the highest level.”

The residents subsequently adopted a common position, chanting: “No to Band A, Yes to Band B!”

They also expressed concern over the sharp difference in the number of electricity units they receive for the same amount of money since the alleged migration.

One of the residents, Mr Abolore Olanishebi, said a ₦10,000 electricity purchase that previously gave residents about 142 to 145 units under Band B now gives them roughly 44 units under Band A.

“This Band A thing is a fraud. Imagine a unit we buy for ₦10,000 during Band B, where we get about 145 or 142 units, and now with Band A, ₦10,000 gives us 44 units. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Olanishebi further complained that residents were not adequately informed before the alleged migration.

“We just loaded our units as usual and started discovering that they did not last as they used to. Then everyone started complaining about what was happening until we discovered that we had been moved to Band A,” he added.

He argued that Ilasamaja, which he described as predominantly populated by low-income earners, should not be subjected to a higher tariff without a corresponding increase in electricity supply.

“This is a community with low-income earners, not a highbrow area like Ikoyi, Lekki or Ajah. They cannot force Band A on us when they have not even met the required hours for Band B, and the power supply remains the same. This is cheating, and we don't want it in our community,” Olanishebi said.

Also speaking, Comrade Emmanuel Olushola Joshua, a retired electricity company employee and Chairman of the Concerned Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, said electricity distribution companies may have legitimate reasons for moving customers between tariff bands, particularly from a revenue perspective.

However, he said such migration becomes problematic when consumers are not properly notified and the increased tariff is not matched by improved electricity supply.

“We will move with the community to ensure that their voices are heard and that the distribution company does the needful,” Comrade Joshua said.

He disclosed that residents of other communities, including Idi-Araba, were reportedly facing similar concerns, adding that the association would collate complaints from affected consumers and present them to EKEDC.

Comrade Joshua expressed optimism that the EKEDC management would listen to the residents and take appropriate action.

The Ilasamaja residents, however, vowed to continue pressing their demands until the alleged tariff migration is reviewed, insisting that they font want band A which comes with higher electricity bills