Tinubu Pledges to End Power Outages in Nigerian Hospitals
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s determination to tackle the persistent electricity challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare facilities, stressing that no citizen should die due to power failures in hospitals. Speaking recently, the President described uninterrupted power supply in medical institutions as critical to saving lives and improving healthcare delivery nationwide. This commitment forms part of the administration’s broader “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which seeks to transform the country’s health sector while addressing energy deficits. Under this agenda, the government aims to introduce sustainable and decentralized energy solutions to ensure that hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare centers have a reliable and continuous power supply. Officials have emphasized that this initiative is intended to protect patients, enhance the efficiency of medical operations, and reduce dependence on costly and environmentally harmful diesel generators. To operationalize this plan, the federal government is set to launch a comprehensive Power-Health Compact. The initiative will convene stakeholders across the public and private sectors for a national dialogue on energy solutions for hospitals. The compact will explore the integration of solar energy systems, the promotion of renewable power options, and private sector investment to ensure that healthcare facilities can function without interruptions caused by power outages. In addition to this, the administration has approved a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals nationwide. Senator Ipalibo Banigo commended the measure, stating that it would significantly reduce the financial burden on healthcare facilities, allowing them to redirect resources to essential medical services and patient care. Health experts have welcomed the subsidy, noting that reliable electricity is critical for operating life-saving equipment, maintaining proper vaccine storage, conducting surgeries, and ensuring the smooth operation of emergency rooms. Hospital administrators have long highlighted power outages as one of the major barriers to effective healthcare delivery in Nigeria. In many cases, facilities rely heavily on backup generators, which are not only expensive to maintain but also pose environmental risks. By addressing these challenges through both policy measures and innovative energy solutions, the government hopes to provide hospitals with sustainable, long-term solutions that guarantee uninterrupted medical services. President Tinubu’s pledge underscores the administration’s broader goal of strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and building a system where patients can trust that their lives will not be endangered by preventable power failures. The combination of subsidies, strategic planning, and private sector involvement is expected to improve operational efficiency, attract investments, and promote innovations in healthcare delivery across the country. With these measures, the Tinubu administration aims to ensure that electricity disruptions no longer compromise patient care, ultimately fostering a more reliable, resilient, and life-saving healthcare system in Nigeria.
