The Federal Government (FG) has approved institutional, financing framework to accelerate electrification of health facilities across the country, in a move to providing reliable, 24-hour electricity to hospitals long affected by unstable power supply.
The decision was reached at the third meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC) of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI), a presidential programme jointly coordinated by the Federal Ministries of Power and Health and Social Welfare.
The initiative seeks to provide reliable electricity to at least 30 percent of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaq Salako, and co-chaired by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.
It brought together senior government officials, development partners, and members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC), who presented recommendations for the Committee’s consideration.
Speaking at the meeting, Tegbe said the initiative must now transition from policy discussions to tangible project delivery. Describing the NPHI as one of the Tinubu administration’s flagship programmes.
He stressed that the focus should shift from groundbreaking ceremonies and public announcements to commissioning completed projects that directly improve healthcare services.
Hemphasized the need to ensure uninterrupted electricity for teaching hospitals, state hospitals, and primary healthcare centres nationwide.
He noted that the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has already electrified five Federal Teaching Hospitals and several other health facilities across the country.
According to him, reliable electricity will significantly improve patient care by reducing hospitals’ dependence on emergency generators.
He also reaffirmed the Ministry of Power’s commitment to prioritizing funding for the initiative while ensuring prudent use of public resources.
Highlighting the outcomes of the meeting, Salako announced that the Steering Committee approved a financing framework designed to mobilize public and private investment for healthcare electrification.
It also endorsed a Facility Energy Management Framework, which requires participating hospitals to establish sustainable systems for operating and maintaining their energy infrastructure.
He further disclosed that the Committee approved eight private sector proposals for further engagement from about 70 submissions received during the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Week held in Lagos. He added that Energy Management Teams have already been established in federal tertiary hospitals, while state governments are being encouraged to create similar structures in their health facilities.
To ensure long-term sustainability, Salako said the initiative will be institutionalized through dedicated budgetary provisions and the establishment of a full-time Project Coordination Unit to oversee implementation and drive effective delivery.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmud Mamman, underscored the critical role of reliable electricity in healthcare delivery.
He noted that uninterrupted power is essential for operating life-saving medical equipment, preserving vaccines and medicines, supporting laboratory services, and strengthening emergency response systems.
He described the NPHI as a landmark collaboration between government, development partners, and the private sector to address one of the country’s most pressing healthcare infrastructure challenges.
The Nigeria Power for Health Initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to making reliable electricity a cornerstone of quality healthcare delivery.
As the programme moves from policy frameworks to project implementation, it reinforces the administration’s broader healthcare reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, recognizing that effective healthcare depends not only on skilled personnel and modern equipment, but also on the reliable power needed to keep health facilities operating efficiently.
