The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a new health facility electrification framework to accelerate the delivery of reliable electricity to hospitals and healthcare centres nationwide, as part of efforts to improve medical services and reduce dependence on unstable power sources.

The decision was reached during 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.

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The initiative aims to provide dependable, round-the-clock electricity to at least 30 per cent of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027, addressing a long-standing challenge that has affected hospitals’ ability to operate critical equipment, preserve vaccines and deliver emergency care effectively.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isiaq Salako, and co-chaired by Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, with participation from senior government officials, development partners and members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC).

Tegbe said the programme must now move beyond policy announcements and focus on visible project delivery, stressing that Nigerians should begin to see completed electrification projects in hospitals and healthcare centres.

He described the NPHI as one of the Federal Government’s flagship initiatives and said the priority should be commissioning functional projects rather than focusing only on launching new programmes.

“The emphasis should now be on delivering projects that Nigerians can see and benefit from,” Tegbe said, while highlighting the need for teaching hospitals, state hospitals and primary healthcare centres to receive sustainable power solutions.

The Power Minister noted that the Rural Electrification Agency had already provided electricity to five federal teaching hospitals and several other healthcare facilities across the country.

He added that dependable power would reduce hospitals’ reliance on emergency generators and improve patient care outcomes.

Salako announced that the committee had approved a financing framework designed to attract investment into healthcare electrification, alongside a facility energy management framework that will require participating hospitals to develop sustainable systems for operating and maintaining their power infrastructure.

The committee also approved eight private sector proposals for further engagement from about 70 submissions received during the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Week held in Lagos.

According to Salako, Energy Management Teams have already been established in federal tertiary hospitals, while state governments are being encouraged to create similar structures to support long-term sustainability.

He added that the initiative would be strengthened through dedicated budgetary allocations and the establishment of a full-time Project Coordination Unit responsible for overseeing implementation.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmud Mamman, highlighted the importance of stable electricity in healthcare delivery, noting that hospitals require uninterrupted power for medical equipment, laboratory operations, vaccine storage and emergency services.

He described the NPHI as a significant partnership between government institutions, development organisations and private sector stakeholders aimed at solving one of the health sector’s most critical infrastructure challenges.

Nigeria’s healthcare system has historically faced difficulties caused by unreliable electricity supply, forcing many facilities to depend heavily on diesel-powered generators.

The Federal Government’s latest move represents a shift towards treating energy access as a core part of healthcare infrastructure rather than a separate challenge.

As implementation begins, officials say the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to strengthen public services through targeted reforms, investment and improved infrastructure.

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The success of the initiative will depend on sustained financing, effective maintenance systems and cooperation between federal and state authorities to ensure that improved power supply translates into better healthcare delivery for Nigerians.