By Parrot Newspaper 
Ikeja Electric Insists on N4.3bn Debt Settlement Before Reconnecting Air Force Base
By Parrot Newspaper
The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has declared that the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos, will not be reconnected to the national grid until it settles its N4.3 billion debt to Ikeja Electric Plc.
The military facility was disconnected last week due to unpaid electricity bills, a move that reportedly disrupted operations at Ikeja Electric Plc. In a controversial turn of events, Air Force personnel allegedly stormed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric, vandalizing equipment and assaulting staff members, including journalists.
Reacting to the incident, ANED’s Executive Director for Research and Advocacy, Sunday Oduntan, stated that reconnection would not happen until the debt is cleared. “Reconnection is not possible immediately. They have to pay what they owe us,” he emphasized.
Amid ongoing discussions aimed at resolving the standoff, Oduntan condemned the forceful invasion of Ikeja Electric’s offices, calling it unacceptable in a civilian democracy. “This attack should not happen in a civilian administration because there are better ways of resolving issues,” he added.
Dr. Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), also criticized the military’s approach, calling it a “jungle methodology.” He urged the Air Force and other military institutions to handle disputes through proper channels, warning that such actions could damage Nigeria’s investment reputation.
“This jungle approach to solving problems is not good. As a nation, we have gone far beyond this. The top hierarchy of the Air Force and the military should caution their operatives to avoid the use of this embarrassing approach,” Yusuf advised.
Kola Adesina, Chairman of Ikeja Electric, was unavailable for comment. However, he had previously revealed that the debt had accumulated over seven years, contributing to financial instability within the company.
“We are being owed a significant chunk of money, about N4 billion. We’ve been discussing this for about seven years, but the money hasn’t been coming through. This debt has made us a bankrupt organization, yet we are expected to continue operations,” Adesina had stated earlier.
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Ikeja Electric maintains that all parties in the power sector value chain— including gas suppliers and the Transmission Company of Nigeria—rely on timely payments. The company insists that settling outstanding debts is essential for ensuring stable electricity supply.
With discussions ongoing, the standoff between Ikeja Electric and the Nigerian Air Force raises broader concerns about the military’s financial obligations and its approach to conflict resolution in a democratic setting.
Ikeja Electric Insists on N4.3bn Debt