Nigeria launches plan to end reliance on generators in hospitals

…Healthcare facilities to obtain dedicated private electrical systems

…Reform is expected to improve emergency care and service delivery

Daud Olatunji

The federal government has unveiled a sweeping plan to end chronic electricity outages in Nigeria’s hospitals, introducing a private sector-led model that will see healthcare facilities powered by dedicated energy systems in a bid to eliminate reliance on generators.

For years, hospitals across the country have operated under what health experts describe as a “survival by generator” system, in which unstable electricity supplies force emergency departments, theaters, laboratories and intensive care units to rely heavily on diesel-powered alternatives, often at high financial and clinical costs.

The situation has repeatedly disrupted surgical procedures, delayed diagnostics and in some cases worsened outcomes for critically ill patients, as sudden power outages continue to pose serious risks in life-saving environments.

Now, the government says it is moving from piecemeal interventions to a framework of structured investments aimed at ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to healthcare facilities nationwide.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziak Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Monday at the National Healthcare Electrification Investors Matchmaking Forum in Lagos as part of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative.

He said the initiative marks an important policy transition from government-led repairs and donor-dependent projects to a market-led system designed to attract long-term private investment in healthcare electrification.

Salako described a worsening situation in which unreliable electricity, frequent grid collapses, voltage instability and rising diesel prices have become a daily burden on healthcare facilities.

Across Nigeria, hospitals now spend a significant portion of their operating budgets powering generators to support critical services, leaving fewer resources for medicines, staff and the provision of essential care.

Health care workers have long warned that unstable electrical supplies in operating rooms and intensive care units contribute to avoidable complications, especially when power outages occur during the procedure or during emergency surgeries.

“Electricity is not simply a utility in healthcare; it is a critical driver of service delivery. When power goes out, healthcare delivery stagnates,” Salako said.

The initiative, endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is designed to address the long-standing structural failures of past electrification efforts, which have often collapsed due to poor maintenance, poor accountability and unsustainable financing models.

Under the new framework, the government will implement an “Energy-as-a-Service” model in which private companies finance, install, operate and maintain energy systems in hospitals.

Instead of directly managing electricity infrastructure, hospitals will pay for reliable energy services, while investors will recoup costs through predictable, long-term revenue streams.

Officials say the model should ensure accountability, improve system performance and reduce financial pressure on the government, while stabilizing power supply in critical healthcare institutions.

The government said the program will initially focus on federal tertiary hospitals before expanding to secondary and primary health centers across the country, including public and private facilities.

A governance structure involving inter-ministerial and technical committees has also been established to oversee implementation, strengthen transparency and strengthen investor confidence.

Funding for the initiative is expected to come from a mixed mix of public resources, development finance institutions, climate funds, concessional capital and private sector investments.

Nigeria’s healthcare sector has struggled with unstable electricity supplies for decades, forcing hospitals to rely almost entirely on generators to support essential services.

This dependency has been linked to disruptions in oxygen delivery systems, delays in laboratory diagnostics, interruptions in surgical procedures, and increased risks in emergency and intensive care units.

In several incidents reported over the years, sudden power outages during medical procedures have been associated with complications in maternal cases and critically ill patients, underscoring the human cost of persistent energy instability in the industry.

Salako urged investors, development finance institutions and climate partners to join the initiative, describing healthcare electrification as a point of convergence for health security, climate action and economic development.

He assured that the government will provide enabling policies, regulatory support and guarantees to support project execution and ensure sustainability.

“With the right partnerships, we can ensure that every healthcare facility in Nigeria has access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy,” he said.

If successfully implemented, the initiative could represent one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare system in decades, potentially ending the long cycle of darkness that has strained hospitals and endangered lives.

However, stakeholders warn that effective implementation, transparency and strong oversight will determine whether the ambitious plan succeeds or repeats the failures of past interventions.

For now, Nigeria’s hospitals remain suspended between years of unreliable electricity supplies and a new promise of constant electricity fueled by private investment.

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