A disaster may be looming at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Ikeja due to a prolonged power outage that has left military bombs and rockets exposed to rising temperatures.
This situation expert says creates a volatile environment that could lead to a deadly explosion.
it was gathered that for the past 12 days, the base has been without stable electricity, despite consistently paying the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (Ikeja Electric). With cooling systems down, high-caliber armaments are heating up dangerously, raising fears of an uncontrolled detonation similar to the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of displacements.
A senior military officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, warned of the potential consequences: “These bombs are not meant to be exposed to extreme heat. The longer this blackout continues, the higher the risk of an explosion.”
In addition to the threat of a munitions disaster, the blackout has severely impacted healthcare services at the base’s reference hospital. With no electricity to power essential medical equipment, all scheduled surgeries have been canceled, forcing patients to seek treatment elsewhere.
The hospital morgue is also struggling, as erratic power supply threatens the preservation of bodies. Staff members report deteriorating conditions, and the facility is barely functioning under the current circumstances.
The crisis has also affected the soldiers stationed at the base. The intense heat wave, compounded by the lack of electricity, has led to cases of meningitis among troops. Some soldiers, unable to bear the stifling conditions in their barracks, have resorted to sleeping outdoors.
“This is a military base, not a refugee camp,” lamented one officer. “We have personnel falling sick because of the heat, yet there’s no sign of relief.”
In another alarming development, stocks of Jet A1 fuel, used for military aircraft, have been exposed to the extreme temperatures. Without adequate storage conditions, the highly flammable fuel poses a significant fire hazard, further endangering lives and infrastructure within the base.
Despite its contractual agreement with Ikeja Electric to receive 10 to 12 hours of power daily, the Nigerian Air Force has been left in darkness. Documents reveal that the NAF paid ₦60 million in November 2024 but only received electricity equivalent to ₦43.4 million, with no explanation for the missing funds. A similar discrepancy occurred in December.
Military officials have accused Ikeja Electric of deliberately withholding power, describing the situation as an act of “sabotage with dire national security implications.”
The base commander has issued a 48-hour ultimatum for power to be restored, warning that continued denial of electricity could lead to serious consequences.
“The troops are watching, and they know this is deliberate,” the commander stated. “We are doing our best to maintain order, but this cannot continue.”
As concerns mount over a possible explosion, residents of Ikeja and surrounding areas are growing increasingly uneasy. The memory of the 2002 bomb blast, which devastated the area and caused hundreds of deaths, remains fresh in their minds.
“This isn’t just a military issue—it’s a public safety crisis,” noted a local security expert. “If these bombs go off, the entire city could be at risk.”
As pressure mounts on Ikeja Electric, both military officials and residents are calling for urgent intervention to prevent what could become one of the most devastating disasters in recent history.