The University of Ibadan College Hospital (UCH) has been disconnected from the national grid due to an outstanding debt of N400 million owed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
This disconnection, which the company described as unavoidable, follows UCH’s failure to meet its debt repayment commitments.
Spokesperson for IBEDC Busolami Tunwase, confirmed that the disconnection was prompted by UCH’s significant unpaid balance. While the company expressed sympathy for the hospital’s situation, Tunwase emphasized the need for IBEDC to fulfill its own financial obligations amidst increasing pressures in the energy market.
“IBEDC was compelled to take this course of action due to mounting pressures to meet our financial obligations to the market,” she stated. However, she reassured that the company is willing to work with UCH on a flexible payment arrangement that could be mutually agreed upon.
The situation has drawn attention from various stakeholders, with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) calling for federal intervention as families of patients protest the blackout. The IBEDC reiterated the importance of timely payments from all customers, noting that the debt from major clients like UCH contributes to the broader liquidity crisis facing Nigeria’s power sector.
In previous disconnections, including one on March 19, the IBEDC stated that UCH had been disconnected multiple times in quick succession due to accumulated billing issues. Despite the hospital initially disputing the full amount owed, it later acknowledged the debt and requested time to address it.
Moreover, UCH has been grappling with rising energy costs, particularly following recent tariff increases under Band A, complicating its financial situation further. The IBEDC has called on all customers, including UCH, to settle their outstanding balances to help alleviate the ongoing challenges within Nigeria’s electricity distribution system.
