Patients at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have been facing severe discomfort and health risks due to a four-month power outage. The blackout resulted from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnecting the hospital from the national grid over an outstanding debt of ₦495 million.
The hospital, a major referral centre in Oyo State and southwestern Nigeria, has struggled to provide essential medical services without a stable power supply. Relatives of critically ill patients have been forced to sit outside, using handheld fans to provide relief from the heat.
The prolonged lack of electricity has raised concerns about patient safety, particularly those in critical care units who rely on life-saving medical equipment. A relative of a patient admitted to the ICU expressed frustration with the situation, accusing the hospital management and federal government of neglecting the plight of critically ill patients.
The hospital’s reliance on external facilities for tests and treatment has also been criticized, with many arguing that it is making money for private businesses due to the power outage. The Public Relations Officer of UCH, Obafunmilayo Adetuyibi, denied allegations that patients were asked to bring generators from outside, stating that the hospital has its own generators and has been using solar energy to power the wards.
