• Hospitals spend over N60m monthly on diesel, transfer costs to patients
• Up to 20 per cent fee increase as energy costs strain budgets
• Staff resort to phone flashlights amid surgery delays, disrupted clinic schedules
• Hospitals seek prioritisation by electricity distributors due to life-saving services
As Nigeria’s energy crisis deepens, hospitals have found themselves in increasingly precarious positions with cost-saving measures resembling a dive from the frying pan into the fire.
The crisis took a troubling turn yesterday as patients and their families protested a prolonged power outage at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, grounding all hospital activities.
For hours, patients and visitors were stranded as the demonstration disrupted the hospital’s operations. This was a reaction to 17 days without power or water following the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company’s (IBEDC) disconnection of UCH’s supply.
In a viral video, one protester accused the hospital of exploiting patients by charging for water and electricity they haven’t received, while another lamented, “People are in pain, people are dying in the wards. No electricity, no light… If you have issues, address them openly. Stop endangering lives here. You don’t care about the lives of the patients.”
The nationwide power crisis, compounded by other economic shocks, has already driven numerous establishments into bankruptcy, even as many producers shut down daily due to skyrocketing production costs. Public hospitals are also grappling with severe financial strain, as facilities report difficulties stemming from the recent electricity tariff increase mandated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Findings reveal that the recent hike in electricity rates has further worsened an already distressed healthcare system. Many public hospitals can no longer sustain 24-hour operations due to escalating costs. The worsening power crisis in Nigeria is severely affecting the healthcare sector, particularly secondary and tertiary public hospitals, where the combination of rising tariffs and an unreliable power supply is jeopardising operational stability and compromising patient care.
Amid soaring energy expenses, public hospitals now face significant financial pressures. They often pass these additional costs onto patients, resulting in higher medical bills to keep essential services running. Although the federal government approved a 50 per cent subsidy on electricity for public hospitals in September, its implementation and impact remain unclear.
The lack of reliable electricity has led to surgery delays, disrupted clinic schedules, and forced hospitals to rely heavily on expensive generators. The healthcare sector’s predicament is further exacerbated by broader economic challenges, as increased energy expenses force hospitals to reallocate limited resources, often at the expense of other critical needs.
Reports indicate that some hospitals have seen diesel and electricity expenses nearly triple, severely straining budgets and prompting up to 20 per cent increases in patient fees to offset these costs. In some cases, monthly power expenses have surged twelvefold, compelling management to make difficult decisions to sustain operations without sacrificing the quality of care.
This crisis has blurred the line between public and private hospitals in terms of cost structures, with patients bearing the brunt of rising expenses. Consistent and sustainable electricity supply remains elusive, with findings by The Guardian indicating that most public hospitals spend approximately N60 million monthly on diesel to compensate for unreliable electricity and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
Following the tariff increase, selecting appropriate consumer electricity bands and managing affordability have become significant challenges. While some public hospitals are exploring the option of downgrading to a lower band to cut costs, others are advocating an upgrade to a higher band at reduced rates to secure a more reliable power supply.
At the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Ebute-Metta, the issue of electricity band allocation is particularly critical. Currently assigned to Band B, the hospital receives three hours of electricity daily—wholly inadequate for its nearly fully digital operations.
The hospital’s Director of Corporate Services, Dr Femi Ayoola, informed The Guardian that urgent government intervention is required, as the current three-hour daily power supply is unsustainable. He noted that while the hospital is eager to migrate to Band A to secure at least 20 hours of electricity per day, the prohibitive costs under the new tariff structure have made this option unattainable.
“Like our sister hospitals, we wish to move to Band A, but the cost remains a significant barrier,” Ayoola explained. He also highlighted that although the federal government recently introduced subsidies on electricity tariffs for public hospitals, further measures are needed to prevent patients and the general public from bearing the burden of these rising expenses. Ayoola stressed that electricity distributors should prioritise public hospitals due to the critical, life-saving services they provide.
Supporting Ayoola’s stance, the Assistant Director of Works and Services at FMC, Mr Ezekiel Adenigba, highlighted the hospital’s heavy reliance on diesel. He confirmed that the facility consumes approximately 80,000 to 100,000 litres of diesel each month due to inadequate power supply. Adenigba asserted that reducing the electricity tariff would significantly enhance the affordability of hospital services.
Similarly, management at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Asaba, Delta State, described the facility as struggling to survive amid rising electricity costs. With diesel prices surging, the combined expenses for power and fuel have become unsustainable.
The Chief Medical Director of FMC Asaba, Dr Victor Osiatuma, disclosed to The Guardian that the hospital is grappling with the impact of the recent electricity tariff hike. He warned that the situation could deteriorate further unless the federal government implements innovative solutions and urgently reduces these tariffs.
“We are now spending significantly more on power as diesel prices have increased. The financial burden is now two to three times what we previously incurred. Maintaining 24-hour services requires paying even more for electricity,” Osiatuma lamented.
He elaborated that despite these additional expenses, the hospital still incurs costs for running generators during frequent outages. When asked about the current expenditure, Dr Osiatuma acknowledged, “We are paying much more than before the hike, though I would need to review the records for exact figures. The increase has placed us in a very difficult position.”
Despite these challenges, Osiatuma affirmed that the hospital has managed to keep its debts in check, stating, “Currently, there are no outstanding debts. We have settled all our bills to date. However, the burden of these increased costs remains a significant strain.”
Nevertheless, the increased costs have inevitably been transferred to patients seeking medications or routine services. “It is widely understood that additional expenses must be reflected in the cost of services. However, the increase has been kept modest, not exceeding 20 per cent of previous charges,” Osiatuma disclosed.
The Guardian findings revealed that the tariff hike is already being passed on to patients at Isolo General Hospital, even if only marginally. A source at the hospital revealed that the facility is now spending approximately 12 times its previous budget on power generation, far exceeding its allocated overhead budget. Monthly electricity costs now range between N12 million and N15 million, surpassing diesel expenses.
The source further explained that these rising costs undermine management efforts to keep services affordable. Due to high energy costs, even routine procedures, such as blood screening for donors, are becoming loss-making.
“The increase is unjustifiable. We are not using dollars in this country, nor are we importing electricity. This is our locally generated power, so why should the exchange rate affect it?” the source questioned rhetorically.
The national power crisis has reached a critical point in tertiary hospitals, where consistent electricity is essential for operating life-support systems and diagnostic equipment. Many facilities have become heavily dependent on generators. For instance, the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) continues to rely on diesel and petrol backups despite assurances from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) months ago that it would receive stable power.
The hospital was placed on “Band D” with promises of a steady supply, and PHCN upgraded its connection from 11KVA to 33KVA, again pledging uninterrupted 24-hour electricity. However, the hospital management has been dismayed that electricity remains erratic, with the facility receiving barely six hours of supply daily—far below the promised 20 hours.
The institution’s chairman, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Dr Yusuf Mohammed, revealed that the inadequate power supply has resulted in postponed surgeries and reduced clinic hours, significantly impacting patient care. “The situation is severely affecting us; numerous surgeries have to be postponed, and clinics are heavily disrupted,” he stated.
Similarly, the head of corporate affairs, Mrs Olabisi Ajiboye, highlighted the facility’s growing reliance on alternative power sources. She pointed out that, despite having no outstanding debt to PHCN, the hospital has been compelled to shoulder the soaring costs of generator fuel to sustain essential services.
“We cannot compromise on healthcare. We have been forced to operate using petrol and diesel generators. The situation is dire, as we continuously face high expenses to make up for the unreliable power supply, even though we do not owe PHCN any money,” she lamented.
Compounding these challenges, frequent nationwide power grid failures have led to chronic outages, severely affecting critical healthcare services. The lack of reliable electricity and inadequate backup systems have disrupted hospital operations and endangered patients’ lives—especially those dependent on a stable power supply for survival.
The crisis has sparked widespread discussions on social media, where firsthand accounts have shed light on the dire impact of the power shortages on Nigeria’s healthcare system. One X user, @TholuOla, recounted the situation at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where there has been no electricity for a week, with backup generators completely non-functional.
Reports indicate that healthcare staff on night shifts are now using their phone flashlights to navigate the hospital, illustrating the severity of the situation.
These power issues at LUTH have reportedly resulted in tragic outcomes. X user @Realuchenwaka, Uche Nwaka, shared that he lost a friend due to the lack of electricity at the hospital. “My friend died at the teaching hospital because of that, late last night,” he lamented, highlighting the life-and-death stakes of inadequate power supply in healthcare environments.
The crisis is not confined to LUTH alone. Reports indicate that other tertiary hospitals across Nigeria are facing similar difficulties. X user @AbiolaOlarinde3 shared that the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, faces the same challenges: an unstable power supply and insufficient backup systems.
Likewise, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu, @Paulugwu95 reported that unreliable electricity severely disrupts services and compromises patient care. These consistent accounts reveal a nationwide crisis, underscoring the systemic challenges confronting tertiary hospitals due to the ongoing power shortage.
A medical student at UNTH, who requested anonymity, informed The Guardian that the power crisis has affected both the teaching hospital and the university’s main campus. “There has been no electricity at the Nsukka and Enugu campuses for over a week. There’s a rumour circulating that the university owes N100 million in electricity bills, which has led to the disconnection of both campuses and the teaching hospital,” she explained.
(Guardian)
