On Thursday at 7:40 a.m., armed Nigerian Air Force personnel from the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos, forcibly entered the headquarters of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), located opposite the MITV building. Led by a female officer, the military group blocked nearby roads and held staff and visitors inside, causing disruption and unease in the vicinity.

Reason Behind the Military Action

The incident stemmed from a two-week power outage at the Air Force base, triggered by IKEDC disconnecting supply due to an unpaid debt amounting to millions of naira. Sources revealed that the Air Force had a standing agreement with IKEDC to pay N60 million monthly for 10–12 hours of electricity daily. The blackout disrupted critical operations at the base, including medical services, water supply, and an armament storage facility requiring constant cooling to avoid overheating. A military insider, speaking off the record, referenced the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb explosion as a grim warning of what poor maintenance could lead to, stating, “Another disaster like that would devastate Lagos.”

IKEDC’s Position

Kingsley Okotie, IKEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, responded by clarifying that the base operates under a Band A feeder and has only paid for the electricity supplied so far, yet a substantial debt remains. “The disconnection isn’t solely about money,” he said.

“We need to install equipment at the base to enhance supply, but we’ve been denied entry.”

Okotie added that IKEDC staff have faced aggression when attempting to work within the barracks, complicating efforts to address technical issues. He emphasized the company’s willingness to cooperate, provided the Air Force grants access for necessary upgrades.

Plea for a Solution

The anonymous military source demanded that IKEDC restore power within 48 hours, cautioning that prolonged disconnection could pose significant security risks. Meanwhile, Okotie stressed that payment for consumed energy is non-negotiable and urged both sides to engage in talks to settle the matter peacefully. The Nigerian Air Force has not yet issued an official statement on the standoff.