The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive institutional reform and financing framework aimed at accelerating the electrification of health facilities across Nigeria, a major step toward ensuring uninterrupted, 24-hour electricity supply in hospitals and healthcare centres nationwide.
The approval was reached during 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 targets reliable electricity for at least 30 percent of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027.
The meeting, chaired by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaq Salako, and co-chaired by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, brought together senior government officials, development partners and members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC), which presented key recommendations for consideration.
Speaking at the meeting, Tegbe stressed that the initiative must now shift from policy discussions to tangible project delivery. He described the NPHI as one of the flagship programmes of the Tinubu administration, emphasizing that the focus should now be on commissioning completed healthcare electrification projects that Nigerians can see and benefit from, rather than holding more groundbreaking ceremonies.
He noted that teaching hospitals, state-owned hospitals and primary healthcare centres must be fully powered, revealing that the Rural Electrification Agency has already provided electricity to five Federal Teaching Hospitals and several other health facilities across the country.
Tegbe added that dependable electricity would significantly improve patient care by reducing hospitals’ dependence on diesel generators, while assuring that the Ministry of Power would continue to prioritize funding for the initiative and ensure value for money.
Announcing the resolutions of the meeting, Dr. Salako disclosed that the Steering Committee approved a financing framework to attract investment into healthcare electrification, alongside a facility energy management framework that will require participating hospitals to establish sustainable systems for managing their energy infrastructure.
He further revealed that the committee approved eight private sector proposals for further engagement from nearly 70 submissions received during the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Week held in Lagos.
According to him, Energy Management Teams have already been established in federal tertiary hospitals, while state governments are being encouraged to create similar structures. He added that the initiative will now be institutionalized through dedicated budgetary allocations and a full-time Project Coordination Unit to drive implementation.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmud Mamman, highlighted the critical role of uninterrupted electricity in powering life-saving medical equipment, preserving vaccines, supporting laboratory services and strengthening emergency healthcare systems.
He described the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative 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 underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to making reliable electricity a cornerstone of quality healthcare delivery. As the programme moves from policy frameworks to project execution, it reinforces the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognizing that effective healthcare depends not only on skilled personnel and modern equipment, but also on the reliable power needed to keep them operational.