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Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government has pledged to fix electricity supply issues across military installations nationwide, in a bid to strengthen national security and operational capacity.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu disclosed this in a statement on Sunday after a visit by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, in Abuja.
During the courtesy visit, Chief Adelabu said the government would prioritize steady electricity for military bases across the country.
“The President has issued a clear directive to prioritize power to military installations in barracks and bases. It’s a national security imperative,” he said.
The visit, led by Air Marshal Abubakar, aimed to deepen collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force and the Ministry of Power on reliable power supply to Air Force facilities.
Adelabu noted challenges inherited by the Ministry, such as inadequate metering and obsolete infrastructure. He explained that old contracts awarded for military metering since 2003 are now being revived for better results.
According to him, the Ministry is also engaging with electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to address persistent power instability across the six geopolitical zones.
As part of the ongoing reforms, the Minister cited the commissioning of a 3.1MW mini grid at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, and similar ongoing power projects in Jaji and other locations.
“A clean, stable and cost-effective energy supply is critical. The military operates as a strategic institution, not a commercial entity—it deserves tailored energy solutions that reflect its national importance,” Adelabu stated.
To sustain progress, the Ministry plans to replace old transformers with modern ones and convene a joint strategy session with all 11 DisCos and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to design a coordinated, long-term approach.
In response, Air Marshal Abubakar praised the Minister’s reforms and expressed the Air Force’s concern over encroachment on transmission lines serving military facilities. He called for the Ministry’s support to curb illegal connections and resolve billing disputes, especially with Ikeja DisCo.
Abubakar emphasised the importance of electricity to the Armed Forces’ operations, stating, “Electricity is vital not only to the economy but to Nigeria’s broader national security infrastructure.”
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s readiness to work with the Power Ministry in securing national infrastructure and rolling out renewable energy solutions at its bases.