By Archibong Esuene
At the National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector held in Abuja, Enugu State drew national attention for what many described as a bold and practical approach to solving the country’s long-running electricity crisis in hospitals.
Speaking at the forum, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, outlined the administration of Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s ongoing efforts to integrate renewable energy into healthcare delivery.
According to him, Enugu has committed over ₦1 billion in counterpart funding to roll out green energy solutions across all Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities. He further disclosed that new Type-2 PHCs are being constructed in each of the state’s 260 electoral wards, a move he described as a “cornerstone of the administration’s infrastructure rebirth agenda.”
“For us, renewable energy is not an option but a necessity. Frequent blackouts have for years hindered effective health services. Governor Mbah is determined to reverse this by powering health centres sustainably to safeguard lives,” Prof. Ugwu stated.
His comments aligned with the concerns raised by participants at the dialogue, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume—emphasized that uninterrupted power supply in hospitals is a matter of life and death.
Health and power sector leaders, including Coordinating Minister of Health Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate and Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, noted that the Electricity Act 2023, solar mini-grids, and new public-private partnerships would form the basis of reforms in hospital electrification.
While many states are still exploring options, Enugu was singled out as already moving from policy to practice. Prof. Ugwu stressed that the administration’s vision goes beyond infrastructure to sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity in healthcare delivery.
“The dialogue is timely, but Enugu is not waiting. With the right political will and targeted investments, we are showing that health systems can function reliably and deliver quality care to citizens,” he added.
As discussions continue on a national framework for powering hospitals, Enugu’s initiatives are being seen as a working model that could inspire replication in other parts of the country. For many communities in the state, the results are already visible: functional health centres, powered wards, and uninterrupted services for patients.
