UCH Ibadan Battles 100-day Electricity Disconnection as Health Minister Pate Reveals Plans for Solarization
For more than 100 days, the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, one of Nigeria’s most revered medical institutions, has struggled with a crippling electricity crisis. The once-bustling corridors of the hospital, where generations of Nigerians have sought medical care, now operate within the constraints of power rationing, forcing doctors and patients alike to adapt to a new, unsettling reality.
Yet, amidst this crisis, a quiet battle for survival is being waged. On Hard Copy, a Channels Television programme, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, shed light on the dire situation and the ongoing efforts to restore stability.
A Hospital in the Dark, but Not Powerless
UCH, known for its legacy as Nigeria’s first teaching hospital, found itself plunged into darkness after years of accumulated electricity debts led to a disconnection by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The disconnection, however, was only part of a deeper problem; the hospital’s power was linked to the University of Ibadan’s grid, meaning UCH was being charged not just for its own electricity consumption but also for private residences and businesses within the university’s perimeter.
“The hospital was paying for a bill that included others—residences and private entities—so disentangling that is necessary,” Prof. Pate explained. “How can a hospital bear the burden of residences that are not necessarily part of its operations?”
With no immediate resolution in sight, UCH had to find alternative ways to stay operational. The hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD) spearheaded an urgent transition to off-grid solutions, including solar-powered wards and rationed diesel use for critical areas like surgical theatres.
“It’s not as if the hospital wasn’t functioning,” Prof. Pate emphasized. “It was functioning within certain bounds, using off-grid resources. The theatres are operational, and there are patients receiving care.”
A Glimpse of Light Amid the Crisis
The visuals tell a story of resilience. Despite the challenges, pictures taken just days ago show parts of UCH illuminated; evidence that the transition to alternative power sources is making a difference. Still, it’s a fragile system, dependent on costly diesel and limited solar coverage.
Prof. Pate acknowledges that the situation at UCH is emblematic of a broader crisis facing Nigerian hospitals. Skyrocketing diesel costs are eating into internally generated revenue, leaving many facilities in a precarious financial position.
A Long-Term Solution on the Horizon?
The government, according to Prof. Pate, is not ignoring the crisis. In the proposed 2025 budget, a nationwide effort is being put in place to solarize major hospitals, working in partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency.
“The goal is to ensure that alternative power sources sustain our medical facilities so that we’re not constantly at the mercy of the national grid,” he said.
But for UCH, the question remains: How much longer can a hospital, designed to heal, operate under the weight of a power crisis? For the patients who depend on its services and the medical professionals who work against the odds, the flickering lights of UCH are not just a symbol of survival but a call for urgent, lasting solutions.
