The Federal Government has unveiled plans to ensure that no hospital, primary healthcare centre, or diagnostic laboratory in Nigeria is left without reliable electricity, as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the First National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Power said the initiative marks a critical step in strengthening the link between reliable energy access and the delivery of quality healthcare services across the country.
> “Without reliable power, health systems cannot function effectively. Without a healthy population, productivity and economic growth cannot be achieved,” the Minister stated, stressing the need for deeper collaboration between the power and health sectors.
He explained that the Federal Ministry of Power, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), is already deploying solar hybrid mini-grids, standalone solar home systems, and innovative renewable solutions to electrify healthcare centres nationwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 50kW solar mini-grids were installed in about 100 health facilities, ensuring uninterrupted power for critical services.
The Minister also highlighted progress under the Energizing Education Programme, noting the commissioning of a 12MW solar hybrid system at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and a 7MW system at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, both designed to guarantee clean and reliable power for medical operations.
He said the interventions have already transformed service delivery in rural and urban communities:
Vaccine storage facilities are now functional in previously underserved areas.
Maternal and child health services have improved with reliable lighting and powered equipment.
Cold storage for essential medicines and emergency services have become more dependable.
“These are not abstract achievements; they represent real lives being saved, communities being empowered, and healthcare being brought closer to the people,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to scaling up the initiative by leveraging renewable energy, distributed generation, energy storage systems, and grid expansion to build a sustainable electricity backbone for the health sector.
He called for stronger policy frameworks, expanded financing structures blending public and private investments, and sustained collaboration to deliver on the vision.
> “This is not just about powering buildings. It is about powering hope, powering dignity, and powering the future of our nation,” he declared.
The dialogue, attended by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; lawmakers; development partners; and other stakeholders, emphasised that collaboration across sectors is key to achieving inclusive development in Nigeria.
