A looming catastrophe threatens the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja as a 12-day power outage has left high-caliber military armaments, including bombs and rockets, dangerously exposed to extreme heat. Military sources warn that if the blackout continues, Nigeria could witness a disaster similar to the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast, which devastated the area and claimed hundreds of lives.
Describing the situation as “a disaster waiting to happen,” military officials who spoke under anonymity expressed fears that the absence of electricity to power the cooling systems could trigger accidental explosions. “The risk is increasing by the hour,” a senior officer revealed, emphasizing that the situation is spiraling out of control.
Apart from the risk of bomb explosions, the highly flammable Jet A1 fuel stored at the base is also exposed to soaring temperatures, further escalating the potential for disaster. “Without a stable power supply, the conditions for a tragedy are rapidly developing,” another military source warned.
Beyond the security concerns, the prolonged blackout has crippled essential services within the base. The reference hospital has been forced to refer critical patients to other medical facilities, disrupting planned surgeries. The mortuary is also facing a severe crisis as inadequate refrigeration has led to rapid decomposition of corpses.
Personnel stationed at the base are bearing the brunt of the crisis, especially with the current heatwave in Lagos. Some soldiers have reportedly contracted meningitis due to the unbearable conditions in their quarters. “It’s inhumane. We are serving our country, yet we are being made to suffer like this,” a frustrated soldier lamented. Others have resorted to sleeping outdoors in an attempt to escape the suffocating heat inside their rooms.
At the center of the crisis is the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (Ikeja Electric), which has been accused of failing to honor its agreement with the Nigerian Air Force. Investigations revealed that despite NAF paying a monthly fee of N60 million for 10 to 12 hours of daily electricity, the power supply has remained erratic.
In November 2024, the base was billed N43.4 million but reportedly paid N60 million, with no explanation or reimbursement for the excess amount. The same situation occurred in December, fueling allegations of sabotage. “This is not just inefficiency, it is a deliberate act of sabotage,” a military source said angrily.
Documents obtained by THISDAY showed that NAF had written several warnings to Ikeja Electric, stressing that the continued denial of power supply could have dire consequences, both for national security and military-civil relations. “If this is not resolved immediately, we are looking at a potential national disaster,” another officer warned.
Military personnel at the base are growing increasingly frustrated, with many feeling abandoned despite their sacrifices for the country. “It’s demoralizing to see how we are being treated. We put our lives on the line, yet we can’t even get basic power supply,” a soldier said.
Even backup generators are struggling to keep critical systems operational, with some storage facilities nearing dangerous temperature levels. “Generators are not a long-term solution. They are already failing, and we are running out of options,” another military source revealed.
While some have suggested that the base should explore solar energy as an alternative, officials argue that such a transition would take time, whereas immediate action is needed to prevent a catastrophe. “Solar is a long-term solution, but right now, we need urgent intervention before something irreversible happens,” a senior officer said.
Efforts to get a response from Ikeja Electric have so far been unsuccessful. Calls placed to the company’s corporate communications representatives went unanswered, and text messages sent to them remained unanswered at the time of filing this report.
With fears mounting and pressure building, the Nigerian government may be forced to intervene before the crisis spirals into a full-blown disaster. The question now is: will action be taken before it’s too late?
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