The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has described the ongoing three-month power outage at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as a national embarrassment, attributing it to a vendor-customer crisis. The minister made this statement during a meeting with the Managing Director of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Engineer Francis Agoh, to discuss immediate steps to restore electricity to Nigeria’s premier teaching hospital. Following the meeting, it was agreed that power would be restored to the hospital’s clinical section within 48 hours.

The electricity crisis at UCH stems from the hospital’s disconnection from the national grid by IBEDC due to an outstanding debt of approximately ₦500 million. The prolonged blackout has severely affected hospital operations, limiting medical services and patient care. The minister’s intervention aims to resolve the impasse, ensuring that critical health services are not jeopardized by financial disputes.

Meanwhile, students from the University of Ibadan (UI) staged a peaceful protest during the minister’s visit to UCH, voicing their frustrations over the hardships caused by the power outage. Led by Aweda Bolaji, the students gathered outside as the minister met with the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo. They demanded urgent action to restore electricity, highlighting the impact on patients, students, and healthcare workers at the institution.

With the minister’s intervention, UCH is expected to have power restored in phases, starting with its clinical section within 48 hours. The development brings hope for improved healthcare services, though the hospital’s debt situation remains unresolved. The minister emphasized the need for a long-term solution, urging hospitals and utility companies to establish sustainable payment structures to prevent similar crises in the future.