The Federal Government has approved a new institutional reform and financing framework to accelerate the electrification of health facilities across the country, in a major step towards ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to hospitals and improving healthcare delivery nationwide.
The approvals were made at 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 aims to provide reliable electricity to at least 30 per cent of Nigeria's health facilities by the end of 2027.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaq Salako, and co-chaired by the Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe. It brought together senior government officials, development partners and members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC), who presented recommendations for consideration.
Speaking during the meeting, Tegbe said the initiative had reached a stage where emphasis must shift from policy discussions and announcements to visible project implementation.
He described the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative as one of the flagship programmes of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, stressing that Nigerians should begin to witness completed projects rather than more groundbreaking ceremonies.
According to him, the goal is to ensure that teaching hospitals, state-owned hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the country are equipped with reliable electricity capable of supporting quality healthcare services.
The minister disclosed that the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has already provided electricity to five Federal Teaching Hospitals as well as several other health facilities across the country.
He noted that stable electricity would significantly reduce hospitals' dependence on diesel-powered generators, improve patient care and guarantee uninterrupted operation of critical medical equipment.
Tegbe assured stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Power would continue to prioritise funding for the initiative while ensuring transparency and value for money in project execution.
Announcing the resolutions of the meeting, Salako said the Steering Committee approved a comprehensive financing framework designed to mobilise investments for healthcare electrification across Nigeria.
He also revealed that the committee approved a facility energy management framework requiring participating health institutions to establish sustainable systems for managing their energy infrastructure.
The minister disclosed that eight private sector proposals were selected for further engagement from about 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 to strengthen implementation at the sub-national level.
Salako further announced that the initiative would now be institutionalised through dedicated budgetary allocations and the establishment of a full-time Project Coordination Unit to oversee implementation and ensure continuity.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmud Mamman, said uninterrupted electricity remains critical to efficient healthcare delivery.
He explained that reliable power is essential for operating life-saving medical equipment, preserving vaccines, supporting laboratory services and strengthening emergency response systems.
Mamman described the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative as a landmark partnership involving government, development partners and the private sector to address one of the most significant infrastructure challenges confronting Nigeria's health sector.
The Nigeria Power for Health Initiative is a key component of the Federal Government's healthcare and energy reform agenda, reflecting the Tinubu administration's commitment to strengthening healthcare through improved infrastructure.
With the newly approved financing and institutional frameworks, the government expects the initiative to move rapidly from policy design to project implementation, ensuring that hospitals across the country have access to reliable electricity needed to deliver quality healthcare services.