The dispute between the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC, and the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, is intensifying as the base remains without power for two weeks.
The prolonged blackout, attributed to an unresolved debt dispute and access restrictions, has raised concerns over security risks and essential service disruptions.
Investigations by the News Agency of Nigeria indicate that the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, had an agreement with IKEDC to pay ₦60 million monthly for 10 to 12 hours of daily electricity supply. However, a military source insists that payments have been made as agreed, yet the base remains in darkness.
The source, speaking anonymously, warned that the lack of power is endangering high-calibre armaments stored at the base due to rising temperatures. “The 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast is still fresh in our minds. A repeat would be catastrophic for Ikeja and Lagos State,” the source stressed.
Aside from security concerns, essential services such as medical care and water supply have been severely affected. The source also alleged that NAF had overpaid its bills in November and December without any explanation for the excess charges, describing the blackout as an “unpatriotic act with dire consequences on national security.”
IKEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, stated that the base was only paying for the electricity supplied under a Band A feeder but still had significant outstanding debts. He added that the disconnection was not solely financial but also due to the base’s refusal to grant IKEDC access for necessary installations.
“The level of hostility towards our staff is high. We have faced harassment within the barracks, making it difficult to carry out required improvements,” Okotie explained. He urged the Air Force authorities to allow access for technical upgrades, emphasizing that resolving the dispute requires dialogue and cooperation.
With both sides holding firm, tensions continue to mount. The military has issued a 48-hour ultimatum for power restoration, while IKEDC insists on access to fix underlying issues. Without swift intervention, the standoff could escalate further, raising fears of wider security implications.
NAN
