A reported confrontation involving musician Duncan Mighty and electricity officials in Port Harcourt has once again exposed a problem that goes far beyond one celebrity, one house or one disconnection.
Videos circulating online show a confrontation involving the singer, residents and officials during an attempted power disconnection at his residence. Reports say the situation escalated and that Duncan Mighty was injured during the incident. The exact circumstances of the alleged assault and who was responsible still need to be independently established, so claims from witnesses and social-media videos should be treated cautiously.
The bigger issue is how quickly an ordinary electricity dispute can turn into a public confrontation in Nigeria.
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has previously acknowledged that electricity customers face frequent outages caused by issues including grid problems, damaged equipment, storms and vandalism. That already creates frustration for customers who pay for electricity but often struggle to receive reliable service.
The Electricity Act 2023 also established a clearer legal framework for Nigeria’s electricity sector, including the rights and obligations of consumers and electricity companies. Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company is specifically recognized under the Act as a distribution company.
That means disputes should not have to be settled by arguments in the street. If a customer has unpaid bills or has violated the rules governing electricity supply, the distributor should be able to follow the proper procedure. If a customer believes a disconnection is unjustified, there should be an effective complaint and dispute-resolution process.
That is the real lesson from the Duncan Mighty incident. Celebrities should not receive special treatment simply because they are famous. But electricity companies should also not be able to operate as though customers have no rights.
The fact that the confrontation involved a well-known musician has simply made a problem that many Nigerians already understand impossible to ignore.
There is also a wider concern about trust. When customers believe that disconnection can happen without adequate communication, while electricity companies believe customers will only respond when enforcement arrives, confrontation becomes much more likely.
The solution is not giving celebrities preferential treatment. It is making the rules clear, enforcing them consistently and ensuring both sides have accessible ways to challenge decisions.
If Nigeria wants people to accept higher electricity costs and comply with payment requirements, the power sector also needs to show customers that their rights matter.
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