The Federal Government has inaugurated the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI), a landmark program aimed at guaranteeing uninterrupted and sustainable electricity supply to health facilities across the country. The inauguration took place at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
The initiative, formally launched by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziq Adekunle Salako, seek to tackle the long-standing issue of power insufficiency in hospitals, a challenge that has frequently disrupted health services and endangered lives. “Energy insufficiency in hospitals has become an emergency and a major disrupter of health services in our country. No Nigerian should be left in the dark while seeking healthcare,” Dr. Salako stressed.
The Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC) inaugurated under the initiative will coordinate national efforts to electrify health facilities sustainably. Chaired by Dr. Salako with the Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, as co-chair, the committee will oversee a framework comprising technical, project delivery, and facility-level energy management structures to ensure effective implementation.
Chief Adelabu emphasized that reliable electricity is critical for all sectors, particularly healthcare. “After prioritizing food security, the next priority is our health. A robust health sector cannot exist without power,” he noted, highlighting the role of the Electricity Act 2023 and the National Integrated Policy on Electricity as key enablers for decentralized and sustainable energy deployment.
The NPHI aimed to achieve sustainable power supply in at least 50 percent of Nigerian health facilities within the first two years of implementation. Both ministers affirmed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, underlining the government’s commitment to strengthening health infrastructure and improving patient outcomes.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom , described the initiative as a bold and innovative step toward a resilient health system. She urged committee members to provide strategic direction, mobilize resources, and foster inter-sectoral collaboration to ensure that no patient suffers due to lack of electricity.
The program also emphasized public-private partnerships and the involvement of development partners to ensure long-term sustainability, covering primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities, including private clinics.
The Federal Government hailed the NPHI as a life-saving intervention that will empower healthcare workers, improve medical service delivery, and reduce preventable deaths caused by power failures in hospitals.
