Much ado about blackout at Air Force base Ikeja

If nothing is done about the prolong power outage at the Air Force Base Ikeja quickly, there could be consequences as OGUNTADE ISMAILA  reports.

Prolong power outage at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Ikeja has sparked fears of a possible explosion as the base is home to a large number of aircrafts and ammunition storage facilities. The blackout started days back and is yet to be restored. 

The Nigerian Air Force has not released a statement on the cause of the blackout, but some sources have speculated that it may be due to a technical fault or a deliberate act of sabotage. The incident led to a number of disruptions at the base, including the grounding of all aircrafts and suspension of all training activities.

Residents living near the base have also been affected by the blackout, with some reporting that they have been without power for several hours.

The Nigerian Air Force has not yet said when power is expected to be restored.

In the meantime, residents living near the base have been advised to stay away from the area. They have also been advised to desist from using any electronic devices that could be affected by a power surge.

The blackout has also raised concerns about the security of the base, as it is now more vulnerable to attacks.

As a result of this, last Thursday, tensions escalated in Lagos as men in military uniforms invaded the headquarters of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) over what they described as a deliberate attempt to plunge the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base and other military installations into total blackout.

The power outage, which has lasted over 15 days, has reportedly paralyzed operations at both the Nigerian Army’s 9 Brigade Ikeja Cantonment and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Logistics Command in Ikeja, raising serious security concerns.

During a visit by Blueprint to the base over the incident, a source within the base disclosed that personnel and residents fear a potential disaster akin to the deadly 2002 Ikeja Cantonment explosion.

The source disclosed that the prolonged blackout has left critical military equipment and high-calibre ammunition storage facilities without power, significantly increasing the risk of overheating and accidental detonation.

Expression of concerns

A senior military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also expressed grave concerns. 

“The 2002 disaster on January 27 led to series of devastating explosions, killing hundreds and displacing thousands. Now, with over 15 days of blackout at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, many fear history could repeat itself.”

Another source close to the base confirmed that the lack of power has severely disrupted cooling systems essential for storing sensitive weaponry such as bombs and rockets.

“The rising temperature in these storage areas is dangerous. Ammunition depots require a controlled environment and without proper cooling, the risk of spontaneous detonation increases significantly,” the source warned.

The officer lamented the continued power crisis, stating that despite the base’s efforts to maintain payment commitments, power supply has remained erratic. 

“We have been having issues with Ikeja Electricity for over two years. Despite paying our bills, we experience frequent blackouts. This base is a critical military installation and we cannot afford to gamble with security.”

According to insider reports, the Air Force Base had agreed to a monthly electricity payment of N60 million to ensure stable power supply. However, despite this agreement, the base has been receiving only 10 to 12 hours of electricity daily.

“In November 2024, our bill was N48.4 million, yet we paid N60 million. Still, power supply remains unreliable. It is unacceptable that a strategic military base is being subjected to such neglect,” the source added.

Beyond ammunition storage concerns, other critical services such as medical facilities and water supply have also been significantly affected, causing further distress among personnel and nearby communities. 

Security experts have strongly condemned the situation, warning of dire consequences if urgent action is not taken. A retired military engineer, Oguntade Ajayi, emphasized the dangers of prolonged power outages at ammunition depots.

“Ammunition storage facilities must be kept at controlled temperatures. Without proper cooling, the risk of unplanned detonation due to heat buildup is dangerously high. This is a serious national security issue.”

Similarly, a security analyst Dr Charles Onah criticised the government and power distribution authorities for failing to prioritise military installations.

“Military bases should never experience blackouts. The government and power distribution companies must recognise the security implications of their actions. The Ikeja explosion of 2002 was a national tragedy; we cannot afford another disaster of that magnitude.”

Personnel and security experts are therefore urging the government and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company to immediately restore stable power to the base to avert a looming catastrophe. 

Unfruitful deliberations

The Air Force authorities have reportedly engaged in diplomatic discussions with IKEDC to resolve the crisis, but frustrations are mounting as no resolution has been reached.

“Ikeja Electricity is a service organisation expected to uphold a high level of responsibility to the public; unfortunately, their conduct falls short of what is expected from a company responsible for national security-sensitive installations,” a military official stated.

A response by Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company alleged that it disconnected power supply to Sam Ethnan Airforce Base over N4.3 billion debt. 

The company disclosed further that Ikeja Electric Plc disconnected power supply to the Air Force Base citing an outstanding debt of over N4.3 billion and repeated obstructions in implementing a sustainable billing solution.  

In a letter addressed to the Base Commander, the power distribution company expressed concerns over the continued non-payment of electricity bills, repeated acts of vandalism against its equipment and the refusal to allow the installation of a High Voltage Pre-paid metre to regulate energy consumption at the base.  

The letter signed by the chief executive officer, Folake Soetan, highlighted that since the privatisation of Ikeja Electric 12 years ago, the company had continued to supply electricity to the Air Force Base despite accumulating a debt burden that had negatively impacted its operations, saying that in 2024 alone, the base accrued an additional N893 million in unpaid electricity bills.  

“As acknowledged in your letter, Ikeja Electric has been engaging with the leadership of Sam Ethnan Air Force Base to address concerns regarding electricity supply and unpaid monthly bills. Despite numerous discussions and formal notifications, the issue persists, prompting us to explore alternative solutions,” the letter stated.  

In an effort to mitigate financial losses, the power company had implemented an Autor e-closer device to regulate electricity supply in proportion to payments received. However, the company lamented that the device had been vandalised on multiple occasions, hampering its efforts to manage supply effectively.  

The company also recalled an agreement reached with the Air Officer Commanding, Air Vice Marshal Ademulegun on October 3, 2024 to install a High Voltage Pre-paid metre at the base. However, it stated that access for the installation was denied twice in December 2024 and February 2025, thereby further exacerbating the debt crisis.  

“In the light of the refusal to install the pre-paid metre, repeated damage to our equipment and an accumulated debt exceeding N4 billion, we have now taken the difficult decision to withdraw our services from SEAFB,” Ikeja Electric stated.  

Despite the disconnection, Ikeja Electric reiterated its willingness to engage in discussions with the Air Force to resolve the matter amicably, provided a mutually acceptable payment structure and energy management system could be agreed upon.

Assault condemnable

Meanwhile, the company also raised concerns over incidents of assault and vandalism allegedly carried out by armed personnel against its staff. The chairman of Ikeja Electric, Dr Kola Adesina, speaking at a press briefing, condemned the violence and damage done to the company’s facilities.  

“We have about 200 staff on ground and there were skirmishes of people being beaten. Ten of our staff were brutalised and our offices were vandalised, with a number of assets destroyed and items taken away during this unfortunate incident,” he stated.  

Blueprint was reliably informed that the company maintained that tampering with its equipment, including the Autor e-closer device, constituted a violation of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Order on unauthorized access, metre tampering and bypass. It warned that further infractions would attract legal consequences, including penalties amounting to 300% of the base’s last recorded monthly consumption before any reconnection could be considered.  

As of the time of this report, efforts to get official response from the Nigerian Air Force were ongoing, but still unsuccessful.