The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has disconnected University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, from the national grid due to an outstanding debt of N400 million.
This action has sparked protests from patients and hospital staff, who are struggling with frequent power outages at the facility. On Monday, frustrated patients and staff gathered to protest, with nurses and doctors resorting to using their smartphones for light to navigate the hospital.
The protesters expressed grave concerns over the hospital’s inability to provide essential services, citing that the lack of electricity and water has persisted for 17 days. They further claimed that these disruptions have contributed to patient fatalities. One hospital staff member criticized IBEDC for placing UCH under the Band A tariff, the highest electricity pricing band in the country.
In February, IBEDC had also disconnected UCH due to what they cited as “technical faults and indebtedness,” at which time the hospital’s debt stood at approximately N500 million.
Confirming the recent disconnection, IBEDC’s spokesperson, Busolami Tunwase, stated that the hospital’s debt of N400 million remains unpaid, despite previous agreements.
While the company sympathizes with UCH, Tunwase emphasized that IBEDC had no choice but to take the action due to mounting pressures to meet its own financial obligations to stakeholders.
She also reassured that IBEDC is open to discussions with UCH on a flexible payment arrangement that could be agreed upon by both parties.
In a statement on Wednesday, Funmi Adetuyibi, UCH’s spokesperson, acknowledged that the hospital’s management had held several meetings with IBEDC to discuss payment plans, but the issue remains unresolved.
