- To address the electricity crisis, the Nigerian government plans to solarise hospitals nationwide, starting with UCH in Ibadan.
- UCH had been without power for over 100 days due to unpaid debts to IBEDC, causing operational disruptions.
- The 2025 budget includes funding for solar installations in hospitals through the Rural Electrification Agency, reducing reliance on costly diesel.
The Nigerian government plans to transition hospitals nationwide to solar energy to address the electricity crisis affecting healthcare facilities like the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate announced this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme.
Mr Pate said the 2025 budget includes plans to solarise hospitals through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), starting with UCH, which has struggled with power shortages for over 100 days. “We are working with the REA to provide solar power to hospitals, starting with UCH, to reduce diesel costs that eat into their revenue,” Pate said.
UCH has faced a power outage since October 26, 2024, due to unpaid debts to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The hospital confirmed the disconnection over a debt of about N400 million, part of a larger N3.1 billion bill accumulated since 2019. The disconnection caused operational disruptions and led to student protests demanding immediate action.
After 100 days without power, UCH reconnected to the national grid on Wednesday, February12, following the intervention of Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu. Mr Adelabu met with UCH officials and IBEDC earlier in the week, and they agreed to restore electricity within 48 hours.
Oladayo Olabampe, Chairman of the UCH Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), confirmed the reconnection of electricity to the hospital’s service areas around 6 p.m. on Wednesday. However, residential and commercial areas within the hospital, including banks and schools, remain disconnected. “Even though the residential areas use prepaid meters, IBEDC disconnected them. The people providing the service are also important,” Olabampe said.
Mr Pate explained that UCH had not remained entirely dark during the power outage. The hospital relied on off-grid solutions to keep essential services running. “Over the last three months, the Chief Medical Director has done a great job transitioning to off-grid power, solarising many wards and theatres,” Pate noted.
UCH adopted a strategy where diesel-powered operating theatres were used during certain hours while solar energy powered other areas. Mr Pate also highlighted that UCH’s power supply, including private residences and businesses, was previously linked to the University of Ibadan. This arrangement increased UCH’s financial burden as it paid for electricity beyond its consumption.
“The hospital paid for electricity used by residences and businesses within the perimeter, many unrelated to hospital operations. This needs to be resolved,” Pate stated.
The government’s plan to solarise hospitals aims to provide a sustainable solution to the power issues plaguing healthcare facilities. The move will also help hospitals reduce dependency on costly diesel, allowing them to allocate more funds to critical services. UCH’s ongoing transition to solar energy sets the pace for other hospitals.