By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has pledged to prioritize stable electricity supply to all military bases across the country.
The Minister made this commitment while receiving the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar (DFS), and his delegation during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Power in Abuja.
The visit was part of broader efforts by the Nigerian Air Force to foster deeper collaboration with the Ministry on power supply reliability for Air Force Bases nationwide, a statement by his Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the minister, Bolaji Tunji said on Sunday in Abuja.
Chief Adelabu described reliable electricity as essential for securing military facilities and safeguarding national assets.
“The President has issued a clear directive to prioritize power to military installations in barracks and bases. It’s a national security imperative,” he stated.
The Minister highlighted inherited challenges such as inadequate metering and outdated infrastructure, noting that contracts awarded since 2003 for metering of military sites are now entering a renewed and more successful phase.
He also revealed ongoing dialogue with distribution companies (DisCos), emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated efforts to resolve power instability issues across all six geopolitical zones.
Chief Adelabu cited the recent commissioning of a 3.1MW mini grid to power the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, as well as ongoing projects in Jaji and other locations.
Responding, Air Marshal Abubakar commended the Minister for his forward-thinking reforms in the power sector, emphasizing that electricity is vital not only to the economy but to Nigeria’s broader national security infrastructure.
He expressed concern over the encroachment on dedicated transmission lines to military facilities and sought the Ministry’s support in eliminating illegal connections and resolving long-standing billing reconciliation issues with Ikeja DisCo.
The Chief of Air Staff reiterated the Air Force’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry in safeguarding national infrastructure and implementing alternative energy solutions across its bases.
