LAGOS — The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta, has revealed it pays a staggering N20 million monthly for a mere three hours of daily public electricity supply, prompting the hospital to rely heavily on diesel to power its operations.
This was disclosed by the outgoing Medical Director, Dr. Adedamola Dada, during a media parley on Saturday, where he reviewed the hospital’s achievements and persistent challenges. He stated that the hospital burns approximately 80,000 litres of diesel monthly to keep critical health services running round the clock.
Dr. Dada noted that over the past seven years, 95% of the hospital’s power supply has been self-generated to maintain uninterrupted service, especially after transitioning the hospital’s operations to fully automated systems.
“We are the only federal public hospital receiving just two to three hours of public electricity daily, yet we maintain 24-hour power because of our automation needs,” he said. “Though this comes at a significant financial cost, it’s non-negotiable for quality health delivery.”
Despite the power challenges, Dr. Dada highlighted the hospital’s growing reputation for excellence. In 2022, the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency ranked FMC Ebute Metta as the most standard-compliant hospital in Lagos State. Most recently, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms under the Presidency named the hospital a trailblazer in ICT integration within the public health sector.
He emphasized that the quality of service has attracted increased patient turnout and national recognition, even as power-related expenses continue to strain the hospital’s finances.
