The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has issued a formal apology to the management and staff of Ikeja Electric following an invasion of the company’s headquarters by troops attached to its Logistics Command in Lagos.
NAF also condemned the attack and has ordered investigation into the incident.
NAF noted that those responsible would face disciplinary measures.
The apology was delivered by Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Adeniran Kolade Ademuwagun during a joint press briefing held at Ikeja Electric’s office on Thursday.
While condemning the incident said AVM Ademuwagun emphasised that the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to upholding discipline among its personnel and ensuring that officers operate under strict professional conduct.
“We will investigate what happened and impose appropriate sanctions,” he stated. “The Nigerian Air Force takes the safety of citizens very seriously, and Ikeja Electric should continue providing services without fear of disturbance.”
He stressed that the force values its relationship with civilian institutions and will take decisive steps to prevent a recurrence of such an incident. “The dialogue with Ikeja Electric has been fruitful, and we will continue to work on ensuring our men remain under positive control. The Nigerian Air Force is a disciplined force, and any action that undermines our integrity will not be tolerated,” he added. AVM Ademuwagun also reaffirmed the military’s responsibility to protect citizens rather than intimidate them.
“It is our duty to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians, and we do not take that responsibility lightly,” he said.
Speaking at the press briefing, the Chairman of Ikeja Electric, Kola Adesina, detailed the impact of the invasion, revealing that at least 10 staff members were brutalised while company assets were vandalised or taken away. “About 200 staff were on-site when the incident occurred. Reports confirmed that 10 individuals were brutalized, and several office assets were destroyed or removed,” Adesina lamented.
He described the attack as “unwarranted and distressing,” highlighting the psychological and physical toll on affected employees. “It was a terrible experience for our staff, and it disrupted our operations significantly,” he said. “We are grateful that the leadership of the Air Force has responded swiftly, and we believe that justice will be served.”
Adesina also disclosed that the invasion was linked to a long-standing debt dispute between the Nigerian Air Force and Ikeja Electric. He stated that an agreement had been reached regarding the N4 billion owed to the electricity distribution company. “As an organization, we have been owed a significant sum—over N4 billion—which we have struggled to recover. We have been in discussions about this for some time, and while some payments have been made, the process has been slow,” he explained. He noted that despite the financial challenges posed by the outstanding debt, Ikeja Electric had continued to provide services to the Air Force and other essential institutions. “We recognize the importance of the Air Force and its role in national security. However, electricity services must be paid for, as we also have obligations to meet,” Adesina added.
During the engagement, Ikeja Electric officials visited the Air Force base, where they were briefed on the critical electricity supply challenges facing the facility. Adesina acknowledged the importance of ensuring a stable power supply to military installations, stating that discussions were ongoing to find a sustainable solution. “We were not only briefed on the unfortunate situation but also shown the critical state of their infrastructure. It was made clear why it is important for them to have stable electricity supply,” he said.
However, he reiterated that while Ikeja Electric is willing to collaborate with the military on power solutions, outstanding debts must be addressed to ensure continued service delivery.
