Army attacks Eko DisCo over power outage

Personnel of the Nigerian Army have reportedly attacked a substation belonging to Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo) over power outage, escalating tensions between military personnel and power distribution companies in Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, has revealed that 20 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals received significant solar power interventions to reduce skyrocketing energy costs.

The purported assault came just a week after officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force from the Sam Ethnan Airforce Base, Ikeja, stormed the headquarters of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (Ikeja DisCo) in Alausa and brutalised staff members and journalists, while property worth billions of naira was vandalised.

The Guardian gathered that the attack happened around 1.00 a.m. on March 14.

Eko DisCo’s Head of Corporate Communications, Babatunde Lasaki, condemned the incident as unfortunate, noting that attacks on DisCos were becoming a recurring issue due to the Federal Government’s failure to take action against perpetrators of previous assaults.

He emphasised that the company’s legal team reported the incident to the police, while efforts were underway to petition the Chief of Army Staff (COAS, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Power, and other relevant authorities.

“The soldiers attacked our office at night. They went to one of our stations in Badagry and picked two of our staff. Though they released them later in the day, the fact that they went there and abducted our workers is unfortunate. Later on Friday, they went there again, threatening that we should restore their supply. Our workers tried to explain to them that it was a fault and that the outage was not deliberate, but they continued to harass our workers,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Sunday Oduntan, expressed shock over yet another military attack on a DisCo within a week, highlighting the growing trend of military invasions of utility companies.

He noted that while they were still reeling from the brutalisation of Ikeja Electric staff and the vandalism of its head office by the Air Force, the Army invaded Eko DisCo’s Injection Substation in Badagry at 1.00 am on March 14.

He stated that the Commanding Officer, Lt-Col S. Lawan, had been properly informed about the ongoing Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) upgrade in Agbara.

Nigerian Army’s Director of Information, Maj-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, described the incident as a minor misunderstanding between soldiers and Eko DisCo workers following a fire outbreak.

Nwachukwu added that the Commanding Officer of the unit set up a board of inquiry to investigate the cause of the fire outbreak.

ABBA revealed the interventions when he welcomed the Committee of Chairmen, Governing Councils of Federal polytechnics across Nigeria, led by Sen Barnabas Gemade, on a visit to discuss the urgent need for solar power intervention in federal polytechnics.

A statement by REA, yesterday, noted that discussions focused on accelerating the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative, which aims to provide clean, reliable energy to public institutions, including polytechnics.

The high-level engagement underscored the importance of sustainable energy solutions in strengthening technical education and fostering economic growth.

The committee chairman, representing all 36 federal polytechnics in Nigeria, reiterated the need to electrify the institutions, particularly those in areas yet to be connected to the national grid.

The REA boss emphasised the agency’s commitment to expanding access to sustainable energy across educational institutions.

He highlighted the agency’s ongoing efforts through the Energising Education Programme, a landmark initiative that has successfully deployed solar hybrid power plants to federal universities and teaching hospitals across the country.

By Waliat Musa, The Guardian

Nigeria s Chief of Army Staff passes away

The Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, is dead. He was 56.

Mr Lagbaja, a lieutenant general, died in Lagos after a brief illness, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga wrote in a Wednesday morning statement.


“He passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.

“President Tinubu expresses his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time. He wishes Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honours his significant contributions to the nation,” Mr Onanuga wrote.

He was rumoured dead two weeks ago but the Defence Headquarters debunked the news, explaining that he was on leave.

A week after the rumoured death, PREMIUM TIMES reported that President Bola Tinubu appointed Olufemi Oluyede, a major general, as acting chief of army staff.

On Tuesday, Mr Oluyede was decorated with the new rank of lieutenant-general, an indication he is set to be made substantive army chief.

Lagbaja’s background

Mr Lagbaja was appointed as the army chief by President Tinubu on 19 June 2023

He was born on 28 February 1968, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State. He lived his early life in Osogbo where he attended St Charles Grammar School and Local Authority Teachers College.

He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1987 as a member of the 39th Regular Course. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 19th September 1992 into the Nigerian Infantry Corps.

Between 1992 and 1995, Mr Lagbaja was platoon commander of the 93 Battalion. From 1995 to 2001, he was platoon commander of 72 Special Forces Battalion. In 2001, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He studied Strategic Studies at the US Army War College at the Master’s level.

He was an instructor at Nigerian Defence Academy between 2001 and 2004. He was a Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of peacekeeping at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations. Then he was a Directing Staff at Armed Forces Command and Staff College from 2006 – 2009.

By 2009, he became Deputy Chief of Staff G1 at Headquarters 81 Division and subsequently, he became Commanding Officer at 72 Special Forces Battalion Makurdi from 2012 to 2013 and 2014 to 2015.

In 2016, he was named the Chief of Staff at Headquarters 8 Task Force Division, Monguno. He served as Director of Operations at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations from January – December 2018. He was a Commander of Headquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos State and Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Before he was appointed as army chief, Mr Lagbaja was General Officer Commanding Headquarters 82 Division from March 2021 – August 2022 and Headquarters 1 Division – from August 2022 – June 2023.

Earlier in 2008, he attended the Military Observers Course on Peacekeeping Wing at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February – May 2008) and ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course – Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali – (June – August 2010).

He started his career as a second lieutenant and died as a lieutenant general, a rank he attained in September 2019

Mr Lagbaja participated in Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi Peninsula; United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC); Operation ZAKI Internal Security Operation in Benue State; Operation LAFIYA DOLE; Operation MESA/Operation UDO KA – March 2021 – August 2022 – Internal Security Operation in South-east Nigeria (Anambra/Abia/Ebonyi/Enugu and Imo States); and Operation FOREST SANITY – Aug 2022 to 2023 – Internal Security Operation in Kaduna/Niger states.

The deceased was married to Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja and their marriage was blessed with two children.

Mr Lagbaja is not the first army chief to die while in office.

In 2021, Ibrahim Attahiru, a lieutenant general and then chief of army staff died in a Kaduna-bound plane crash. Mr Attahiru died alongside 10 other military officers and crew.

Premium Times

Nigerian Army reopens Banex Plaza in Abuja

The Nigerian Army has announced the reopening of the popular Banex Plaza in Abuja after about one week it was shut down.

Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, a major general, said this in a statement on Monday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the army shut down Banex following a mob attack on its personnel on Saturday 18 May.

Mr Nwachukwu said the reopening of the plaza followed a high-level meeting held in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and attended by the FCT Commissioner of Police, FCT Director of the State Security Services, the Leadership and Management of Banex Plaza, a representative from the Directorate of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, and the National Chairman of the Mobile Phone Traders Association.

He said the meeting was convened “to identify and apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the continued security of the FCT.”

He said some resolutions were reached at the meeting among which was the immediate reopening of Banex Plaza to the public.

Mr Nwachukwu said it was also resolved that Shop C93 be locked up with immediate effect while the perpetrators of the mob attack on soldiers be arrested.


He also said the army “will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the presence of its personnel at the plaza and the subsequent attack.”

Read the full statement by the Nigerian Army

UPDATE ON THE CLOSURE OF BANEX PLAZA, ABUJA

The Nigerian Army wishes to provide latest update on the recent unfortunate event involving an unprovoked attack by unidentified hoodlums on Nigerian Army personnel at Banex Plaza, Wuse, Abuja, which occurred on Saturday 18 May 2024, leading to the closure of the Plaza on Sunday 19 May 2024.

In response to this incident, a high-level meeting was convened in the Office of the National Security Adviser including the Principal General Staff Officer to the NSA, Commissioner of Police FCT, the FCT Director of the Department of State Services, the Leadership and Management of Banex Plaza, a Representative from the Directorate of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, and the National Chairman of the Mobile Phone Traders Association. The primary objective of this meeting was to identify and apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the continued security of the Federal Capital Territory.

The following resolutions were agreed upon:

a. Immediate reopening of Banex Plaza: Banex Plaza will be reopened immediately to the public.

b. Closure of Shop C93: The leadership of Banex Plaza is instructed to lock up Shop C93 with immediate effect.

c. Arrest of Perpetrators: The owners of the shop who orchestrated the mob attack on the soldiers are to be arrested and handed over to the Nigerian Police.

d. Vigilance by Market Leaders: Market leaders are to remain vigilant and report any remaining perpetrators to the authorities.

Furthermore, the two individuals already arrested have been handed over to the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police for further action.

The Nigerian Army will also thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the presence of its personnel at the plaza and the subsequent attack.

It must be reiterated that acts of violence against military personnel are not only condemnable but also pose a significant threat to national security and public order. We therefore urge members of the public to exercise caution and restraint when interacting with military personnel and other security operatives, especially when they are in uniform. There are established channels for reporting grievances or misconduct by personnel to the appropriate authorities. It is imperative that these channels are utilized to maintain order and respect for those who serve and protect our nation.

The Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and will continue to work diligently to prevent such incidents in the future.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

27 May 2024.

By Popoola Ademola, Premium Times

Defense chief of Nigeria accuses nations withholding arms sales over abuses of ‘double standards’

Nigeria’s defense chief expressed frustration Tuesday with what he called the “double standards” of some countries that won’t sell his military weapons because of human rights concerns.

Gen. Christopher Musa’s comment underscores one of the biggest challenges for Africa’s most populous nation in combating a deadly and complex security crisis, from the Islamic militant insurgency in northeast to the dozens of armed groups targeting travelers and communities in the northwest and central regions.

“Even with our money, it is difficult getting equipment,” Musa told reporters in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja, acknowledging a huge need for items such as helicopters, drones and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.

“Some say human rights, some say ‘You have killed’ … but again, sometimes, people pointing fingers at you have done worse and yet nobody is holding them to account. It is these double standards that (are) making the world more dangerous,” Musa said.

He declined to name the countries in question when asked by The Associated Press.

Nigeria’s security forces for many years have faced allegations of extrajudicial killings and illegal arrests. The United States and other major arms suppliers at one point or another have withheld the sale of weapons over those accusations.

In December, at least 85 civilians were killed when a Nigerian army drone erroneously targeted a religious gathering in northwest Kaduna state, the latest of several such incidents.

Musa said Nigeria’s military has continued to improve on its human rights record and is holding its personnel to account. Alleged abuses are often investigated, and a report on the December incident will be released soon, he said.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces have the capacity to secure Nigeria (and) the entire region,” Musa said, but added that the lack of needed weapons will continue to limit that capacity.

However, there is little evidence to show that Nigeria’s military has improved on its human rights record, according to Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s director in Nigeria.

“Protecting civilians should be their priority (and) they should look at all human rights violations they have committed to ensure accountability,” Sanusi said.

U.S. military support to Nigeria has at times included training on how to mitigate risks to civilians, according to a State Department statement in January on security cooperation. It said that in August, Nigeria delivered the first payment for 12 attack helicopters worth a total of $997 million.

By Chinedu Asadu, AP