FG Sets Up Implementation Committee to Tackle Power Crisis in Public Hospitals

The federal government has inaugurated an Implementation Committee for the National Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector to address persistent electricity challenges in public healthcare facilities.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stressed the urgent need for sustainable power solutions in hospitals. He noted that visits to federal tertiary health institutions revealed severe electricity deficits and rising energy costs, which are significantly impacting healthcare delivery.

“As you may be aware, recent media reports have highlighted the power supply crisis in our public hospitals. While the government has introduced initiatives such as a 50 per cent electricity subsidy and solar mini-grids in selected hospitals, these efforts have not fully addressed the crisis. We must rethink our traditional power generation and supply models,” Salako stated.

He called for a whole-of-government approach and public-private partnerships to attract investment in alternative and renewable energy solutions. However, he acknowledged existing challenges, including fire incidents, theft of critical infrastructure, and maintenance issues in hospitals already using alternative energy sources.

“The time for experimentation and haphazard energy solutions is over. We must develop smart, integrated energy strategies to reduce hospitals’ mounting electricity bills, which run into hundreds of millions of Naira monthly,” he added.

The upcoming National Stakeholders Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector, expected to be held in Abuja or Lagos, will bring together experts from both the health and power sectors. The event will focus on assessing Nigeria’s power policy environment, identifying sustainable energy solutions, strengthening public-private partnerships, and developing a collaborative action plan for reliable electricity supply in public health institutions.

The Implementation Committee is tasked with organising the dialogue, executing its recommendations, and mobilizing resources for the sustainable electrification of healthcare facilities.

Salako expressed appreciation for the commitment of the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Minister of Power, government agencies, and development partners in tackling the power challenges affecting Nigeria’s healthcare sector.