By: Bayero Ade
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has regained electricity supply after being disconnected for more than 100 days. The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) restored power to the hospital on Wednesday.
According to Top Newspaper, Chairman of the UCH Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Mr. Oladayo Olabampe, confirmed the reconnection in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
UCH had been without power since October 26, 2024, due to accumulated debts, prompting protests from students of the College of Medicine. The prolonged outage led to a meeting on Monday between the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and IBEDC management, where it was agreed that electricity should be restored within 24 to 48 hours.
According to Olabampe, power was reconnected around 6 p.m. on Wednesday. However, he noted that only the hospital’s service areas had been restored, while residential quarters, commercial spaces, and schools remained in darkness.
“Even though the residential areas use prepaid meters, they were not reconnected,” Olabampe stated. “We understand the need to prioritize the service areas, but the well-being of those providing the services is also crucial. Banks, schools, and other facilities are still without electricity, and we have endured this for months.”
UCH spokesperson, Mrs. Funmi Adetuyibi, also confirmed that power had been restored to the hospital’s clinical sections.
Reports indicate that during the meeting, Minister Adelabu justified the disconnection of residential and commercial areas, as well as the College of Medicine, citing their role in the hospital’s high energy consumption.
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