Tertiary Hospitals Spend N180m Monthly On Power – Minister

The national authorities has revealed that tertiary hospitals crossed the state walk arsenic overmuch arsenic ₦180 cardinal monthly connected electricity, a concern described arsenic unsustainable and detrimental to healthcare delivery.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this connected Tuesday astatine the National Stakeholders’ Dialogue connected Power successful the Health Sector successful Abuja.

Citing a caller assessment, Salako said Federal Tertiary Health Institutions necessitate betwixt 3 and 8 megawatts of powerfulness to relation optimally, but presently person an mean of conscionable 5.3 hours of proviso from the nationalist grid daily.

He said hospitals trust heavy connected diesel-powered generators to compensate for the deficit, with monthly vigor bills ranging from ₦20 cardinal to ₦180 million.

He noted that substance costs unsocial relationship for 20 to 50 per cent of their operating expenses, straining already constricted budgets and reducing funds disposable for diligent care.

“A accelerated appraisal earlier this twelvemonth shows that Federal Tertiary Health Institutions necessitate betwixt 3 and 8 MW of vigor to relation optimally. The institutions person an mean of 5.3 hours of regular energy from the nationalist grid, person installed a backup capableness of 0.8 – 3.3MW (about 50 per cent backup deficiency), which is 80 per cent generated done diesel engines, spending 20 – 180 cardinal Naira per period to wage for power.

“20 – 50 per cent of operating expenses successful FTHIs spell into substance purchase. This concern is not antithetic successful the backstage sector, with 30% of respondents to a survey conducted successful April 2025 by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria reporting monthly spending of 5 – 20 cardinal Naira connected electricity.

“This script has resulted successful sub-optimal work transportation by our healthcare system, with reduced entree to care, compromised attraction quality, and avoidable nonaccomplishment of lives. Energy proviso has go a large disruptor of wellness services successful our country,” the curate stated.

He added that the backstage assemblage faces akin difficulties. A survey by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria shows that 30 per cent of backstage facilities walk betwixt ₦5 cardinal and ₦20 cardinal monthly connected electricity.

He besides said that 40 per cent of functional superior healthcare centres (PHCs) nationwide inactive deficiency entree to electricity. At the aforesaid time, astir of the remaining facilities person little than 10 hours of regular supply.

Salako explained that portion authorities initiatives specified arsenic the Rural Electrification Agency, which is deploying 100 containerised star hybrid systems, and the Energising Education Programme, which benefits teaching hospitals successful Maiduguri and Calabar, person recorded progress, they stay inadequate successful velocity and scale.

He stressed the request for a whole-of-government approach, backed by backstage assemblage financing, interaction investments, and innovative renewable vigor solutions to guarantee sustainable electrification of wellness facilities nationwide.

“One cardinal expected result of this dialog is the signing of a compact for the sustainable electrification of nationalist and backstage healthcare facilities successful the country. We tin nary longer spend concern arsenic accustomed successful the look of work interruptions, diligent dissatisfaction and mounting vigor bills successful our hospitals,” Salako said.