NECA Calls For Resolution Of Military Electricity Debt To Prevent Future Disputes.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has urged the Federal Government to address outstanding electricity supply debts owed by military bases across the country. This follows a recent attack on Ikeja Electric by personnel from the Sam Ethan Airforce Base in Lagos, which left several individuals injured and caused damage to infrastructure.
NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, emphasised the urgency of resolving the issue to prevent similar incidents in the future. He called on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry of Defence to take immediate steps to ensure that debts owed to Ikeja Electric and other electricity distribution companies (DisCos) are settled promptly.
The attack was reportedly triggered by the disconnection of electricity supply to the airforce base due to unpaid bills amounting to millions of naira. Oyerinde highlighted that Ikeja Electric, as a private entity operating in a capital-intensive sector, has the legal right to demand payment for services rendered. He condemned the act of intimidation against the company, describing it as a bad signal for both local and foreign investors.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, also denounced the attack, stating that conflicts should be resolved through legal and democratic means rather than violence. He stressed that the power sector is vital to national development, and any attack on its infrastructure negatively impacts millions of Nigerians, including homes, hospitals, and industries.
Adelabu commended the resilience of Ikeja Electric’s staff and assured them of the ministry’s support in restoring operations. He called for greater collaboration and peaceful conflict resolution across the power sector, urging Nigerians to reject violence and embrace dialogue to resolve disputes.
With NECA’s intervention and the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing electricity debt issues, there is hope for a more stable and cooperative relationship between DisCos and military institutions, ensuring uninterrupted power supply and a safer business environment in Nigeria.
