The federal government says stable electricity in military bases is now a top security priority.
Power Minister Adelabu and Air Chief Abubakar agreed to tackle outages and illegal connections.
In a renewed effort to bolster national security and enhance the efficiency of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured that the federal government will give top priority to ensuring stable electricity supply across all military bases in the country.
Adelabu made this commitment while hosting the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, and his delegation at the Ministry of Power headquarters in Abuja. The courtesy visit was part of the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing engagement with key federal ministries to secure reliable electricity for its facilities nationwide.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasized that reliable power supply is not only central to national development but also crucial for the protection of military infrastructure and assets. He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had issued a directive specifically mandating that power supply to military barracks and installations be treated as a national priority.
“Our president has made it clear that electricity to military formations must not be compromised,” Adelabu stated. “We are working closely with the distribution companies and all relevant stakeholders to ensure military bases enjoy uninterrupted power. This is key to strengthening our national security architecture.”
He pointed out several challenges inherited by the Ministry, including inadequate metering systems, aging power infrastructure, and long-standing contractual delays. Adelabu noted that some contracts awarded as far back as 2003 for the metering of military locations are only now seeing renewed implementation due to recent administrative reforms.
The Minister also revealed that the Ministry has intensified its discussions with electricity distribution companies (DisCos), urging them to align with the government’s goal of restoring and maintaining steady electricity across all six geopolitical zones, especially for strategic installations like military bases.
Air Marshal Abubakar, while responding, praised the Power Minister for his progressive initiatives and commitment to reforming Nigeria’s power sector. He stressed that electricity is not just a matter of economic development but a vital component of national security.
According to the Air Chief, several Nigerian Air Force bases have suffered from power disruptions, partly due to encroachments on transmission lines and illegal connections to their power supply routes. He urged the Ministry to assist in eliminating such unauthorized connections and to intervene in longstanding billing discrepancies between the military and Ikeja Electric Distribution Company.
“These illegal connections are affecting the performance and security of our operations,” Abubakar stated. “We are asking for the Ministry’s intervention to address these issues, and we’re ready to provide all necessary support to ensure that military facilities are properly powered and protected.”
The Chief of Air Staff further expressed the Air Force’s willingness to partner with the Ministry of Power on alternative energy solutions, including solar energy and hybrid systems, across its various formations. He described this collaboration as essential for improving the resilience of military operations, particularly in remote and high-risk locations.
This partnership between the Federal Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Air Force represents a strategic move toward energy security and operational effectiveness. Both parties agreed to establish a technical working group to follow up on the discussions and implement agreed actions promptly.
The development signals a strong inter-agency alliance focused on enhancing military readiness, securing national infrastructure, and improving electricity access for security forces, which play a critical role in defending the nation.
