*Adebayo Adelabu, Minister for Power, Nigeria Employers鈥� Consultative Association, and Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors roundly frown on the Military Officers’ recent attacks on Ikeja Electric employees and facilities over outstanding electricity supply debts the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, in Lagos State, owes the DisCo

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

Following the Federal Government’s condemnation of the latest attacks by the personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Thursday, March 6, 2025, on the Headquarters at Alausa-Ikeja, other facilities of the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC), and news reporters, the Nigeria Employers鈥� Consultative Association (NECA) has urged relevant authorities to offset all outstanding electricity supply bills of military bases across the country.

Speaking on the incident, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General of NECA, reportedly urged the Federal Government to settle all outstanding electricity supply bills of Military bases across the country.

绿帽献妻 reports some Officers and Men of the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, in Lagos State, Thursday attacked staff and reporters at the Ikeja DisCo or Ikeja Electric (IE), over electricity supply debt to the tune of N4 billion.

Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Honourable Minister for Power

The unfortunate incident has left several persons injured and vital equipment vandalised in the wake of the dastardly invasion of the DisCo’s facilities, according to reports.

Reacting to the incident, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), the umbrella body of DisCos, has petitioned Presidency, Nigerian Air Force, and the Defence Ministry to identify and discipline the Officers and Men of the Air Force Base that attacked the affected civilians.

How soldiers invaded Ikeja Electric Headquarters 鈥揝taff, Reporters

It was also gathered that the soldiers stormed the IE Headquarters in Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos, in a military truck, two OP-MESA vehicles, and others at about 7:40 a.m Thursday.

Prior to their arrival, some reporters had gathered at the company in preparation for a trip to Adiyan, in Ogun State, for the unveiling of a solar project.

However, the soldiers caught the newshounds unawares, as they dragged them out of a bus and beat them thoroughly, even forcing them to sit on the ground.

Relating the traumatic experience, Spokesman of Ikeja Electric, disclosed the Air Force operatives, led by a woman and some men in mufti, occupied the office of Ikeja Electric for over one-and-a-half hours, beating the workers, and other people, including journalists, sighted on the premises.

The soldiers equally blocked the roads leading to the office, which gave them a field day to molest those within the premises of the electricity company, report said.

Okotie reportedly noted that the invasion of the DisCo鈥檚 facilities followed the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the company to reconnect the power supply of the Air Force Base, in Ikeja, which was earlier disconnected because of a huge debt of N4 billion.

According to the IE Spokesman, the Men and Officers of the NAF base vandalised doors, CCTV cameras, and other gadgets in the Ikeja Electric office during the invasion.

Military Officers’ attacks on DisCo a brutal resort to self-help -Minister

Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Honourable Minister for Power, has said the attacks on Ikeja DisCo and its personnel called for concern in view of its grave overall ramifications.

Adelabu noted the current democratic practice in Nigeria has appropriate channels for conflict resolution, rather than a brutal resort to self-help.

Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications, in a statement noted Chief Adelabu said: 鈥淭he attack on the facilities of Ikeja Electric, one of our nation鈥檚 critical power distribution companies by the Nigerian Airforce is unfortunate and a matter of grave concern to our nation, which stands totally condemned.

鈥淭his unfortunate incident has also raised serious questions about the need for restraint, dialogue, and the use of appropriate democratic channels in resolving conflicts.”

Minister Adelabu also emphasised the power sector remains the lifeblood of the country’s economy, and cornerstone of national development.

He contended that any attack on Nigeria鈥檚 critical infrastructure is an attack on the progress and wellbeing of consumers.

The Minister stated: 鈥淭he facilities of Ikeja Electric, which serve millions of Nigerians, were designed to ensure the efficient distribution of electricity to homes, hospitals, schools, and industries including military installations.

鈥淭his incident has set back our efforts to achieve stable and uninterrupted power supply, and it is a blow to the collective aspirations of our nation.”

Why Military Officers should uphold highest standards of professionalism

Emphasising that no grievance, no matter how legitimate, justifies the destruction of public infrastructure, Adelabu noted that such Military Officers’ reckless actions are counterproductive and only serve to exacerbate the challenges Nigerians face as a nation.”

One of the offices the soldiers vandalised at IKEDC

The Minister urged the Nigerian Air Force to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and to ensure that its operations are conducted with utmost regard for the welfare of civilians and public infrastructure.

He equally commended the Management and Staff of Ikeja electricity Distribution Company for their resilience in the face of provocation.

Adelabu further stressed that their comportment in the face of adversity was a testament to their dedication to serving the Nigerian consumers.

The Ministry assured the Management of IKEDC: 鈥淭he Federal Ministry of Power stands ready to support you in any way possible to ensure that normalcy is restored as quickly as possible.”

NECA Chief: Attacks on unarmed civilians lawless and undemocratic

Oyerinde, Director-General of NECA, also frowned on the development.

He described the Military Officers’ action is unlawful, and capable of diminishing the headways made in democratic governance over the years in Nigeria.

鈥淭he Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Defence, should swiftly intervene in this graceless attack on IKEDC such that the amount owed to the company will be paid to them, while electricity supply is restored to the base.

鈥淭he IKEDC operates in a capital intensive space and that operation has been grossly affected by the prevailing operating environment,” he said.

The NECA Chief noted: 鈥淭herefore, the government should leverage this attack to set up a committee to carry out a holistic appraisal of electricity supply debt profiles of other military bases across the country.”

According to him, the attack was a wrong signal for prospective domestic and foreign investors as no rational investor would invest money in a country where his investments and personnel are compromised with such impunity as displayed by the NAF personnel from Ikeja Airforce Base.

Oyerinde further lamented: “It is unfortunate that while the federal government is working effortlessly to address the basic macroeconomic goals of growth of the economy and employment creation, some individuals are unscrupulously and deliberately undermining the efforts.”

He explained the IKEDC is a private entity that invests money to make gains for the sustainability of the company.

The Director-General of NECA asserted: “The company is also a strong employment generator with over 2,600 employees that depend on the company to maintain their families.”

IKEDC, as a private business that is lawfully registered in Nigeria, has the right to demand from the Sam Ethan Airforce Base Management accumulated outstanding electricity debt owed to the company, and also suspend its service for non-payment, he submitted.

Heads must roll over invasion, attacks on Ikeja Electric, says ANED

Speaking on the unwarranted attacks on the Ikeja DisCo in Lagos, Sunday Oduntan, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, in an interview on TVC, said ANED would not relent in seeking redress until justice is done on the matter.

Oduntan averred: 鈥淚 want to believe that we鈥檙e in a sane country.

“I still want to believe that we鈥檙e better than we were in 1978 when Fela鈥檚 house was invaded. So, we want to see what will happen.

“We have to see what the Presidency will do, and the Military authorities too, because normally, heads must roll; not should roll, heads must roll.”

He also noted: 鈥淔or people to leave Ikeja Air Force Base fully armed in trucks, to go somewhere and start beating civilians; they made them lie down on the floor of the Air Force base, more than a hundred people, and beat them repeatedly, someone must pay for this.鈥�

The invasion of the IKEDC, Oduntan stated, could be likened to a coup against all the DisCos, describing the act as a very traumatic experience.

Collapse of national grid amid attacks on IKEDC

Still, in the wake of the physical attacks on the IKEDC employees and facilities Thursday, there was a collapse of the national grid around 2p.m.

It was gathered the incident again, made power generation to the national grid fall from circa 3,366 Megawatts (MW) to 1,517 MW.

Commenting on the development, the Management of the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC), in a statement, alerted power consumers within the company’s franchise network in Lagos and Ogun states to the situation.

The DisCo, however, assured the relevant authorities were doing everything to restore supply.

It also stated: 鈥淧lease be informed that we experienced a system outage today 07/03/2025 @ 14:00hrs, affecting supply within our network.

“Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders.”

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), in its reaction to the grid collapse also blamed a reduction on the supply from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The DisCo affirmed the development resulted in unavoidable load shedding across its network, in Lagos.

The EKEDC noted: 鈥淭his is to kindly inform you that the current power situation is as a result of reduced power allocation from our TCN partners aimed at maintaining grid stability.

“The situation has resulted in unavoidable load shedding across our network.”

The company, however, said: “Rest assured that we are taking all necessary steps to address the situation as we work closely with TCN and other partners to resolve the issue speedily and ensure a more stable power supply soonest.”

According to the DisCo, since Friday, March 7, at about 5.30p.m., the TCN had begun to restore supply to its feeders gradually.

NAF opens imvestigations into attacks on IKEDC

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Officers’聽 invasion of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) Headquarters.

Adeniran Ademuwagun, Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of Logistics Command, addressing reporters at a media briefing condemned the act, and assured that disciplinary action would be taken on the matter.

Ademuwagun said:聽 鈥淲e will investigate what happened and impose appropriate sanctions. The Nigerian Air Force takes the safety of citizens very seriously, and Ikeja Electric should continue providing services without fear of disturbance.”

The AOC also described the unprovoked attacks on IKEDC and reporters as unfortunate, as he apologised to the Management of Ikeja Electric while reitersting the aAr force鈥檚 commitment to professionalism and discipline.

He further stated: 鈥淭he dialogue with Ikeja Electric has been fruitful, and we will continue to work on ensuring our men remain under positive control.

鈥淭he Nigerian Air Force is a disciplined force, and any action that undermines our integrity will not be tolerated.鈥�

Kindly Share This Story