Ola Akinwunmi
In a startling turn of events, armed military personnel invaded the headquarters of Ikeja Electric and its Oshodi business unit on Thursday morning, allegedly in response to the disconnection of power supply to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Lagos.
Eyewitnesses reported that at approximately 7:40 a.m., soldiers in full military attire stormed the Ikeja Electric head office, situated opposite MITV in Ikeja. The incursion is believed to have been prompted by the recent disconnection of electricity to the NAF base due to unpaid bills, which had left the base without power.
Sources within the Air Force base disclosed that an agreement had been established with Ikeja Electric, wherein the NAF committed to remitting ₦60 million monthly in exchange for a guaranteed 10 to 12 hours of daily electricity supply. The recent disconnection, however, appears to have strained this arrangement, leading to heightened tensions between the two entities.
This incident is not isolated. In a similar occurrence eight months prior, Air Force personnel from the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Oshodi invaded critical power infrastructure sites, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria station and Eko Distribution Company’s Mushin Business Unit. During that episode, employees on duty were reportedly assaulted and forcibly taken to the barracks, where they were subjected to further mistreatment.
The recurring nature of these assaults has raised significant concerns about the safety of electricity distribution company staff in Lagos. Ikeja Electric has consistently condemned such attacks, emphasizing the detrimental impact on their operations and the well-being of their employees. The company has urged aggrieved customers, including military establishments, to utilize established channels for dispute resolution rather than resorting to violence.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Nigerian Air Force regarding the incident. The management of Ikeja Electric has called for a thorough investigation and heightened security measures to protect its staff and infrastructure from future assaults.
This incident underscores the pressing need for improved dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms between utility providers and their clients, especially critical institutions, to prevent such confrontations in the future.
