JUST IN: Corpses Rot In Army Mortuaries As NEPA Cuts Light From Barracks

Mortuaries within several Nigerian Army barracks are facing the dire issue of corpses decomposing due to prolonged power outages, revealed Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, during his visit to Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, seeking intervention.

Lagbaja expressed his concerns over the situation, stating that some barracks and cantonments have been without electricity since January, leading to severe consequences such as corpses decomposing in the Army mortuaries. He emphasized the urgency of the matter, highlighting the protests from the families of the deceased.

“The debt owed is loaded on the meter, so no matter the amount of credit we put, the meters pick it automatically,” lamented Lagbaja, indicating the complex challenges faced by the Army in resolving the issue.

He appealed for assistance, referencing the precedent set in 2005 when a similar debt issue was liquidated by the then President. Lagbaja assured the Minister of the Army’s unwavering support in developing strategies to combat electricity infrastructure vandalism.

In response, Minister Adelabu affirmed his commitment to engaging with Distribution Companies (DisCos) to find a viable solution to the problem. He acknowledged the broader challenges plaguing the power sector, including vandalism, inefficiency in billing, and shortage of gas supply, among others.

Adelabu emphasized the need for collaboration between the Army and the Ministry to safeguard power facilities and explore alternative power supply options, such as Solar PVs and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), in Army barracks and cantonments.

The meeting between the Chief of Army Staff and the Minister of Power aimed to address the repercussions of the power outage in army formations and devise effective solutions moving forward.