By Muhammad Amaan
The Federal Government of Nigeria has flagged off the construction of a 7-megawatt (MW) Solar Power Farm at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano.
The move was aimed at taking the hospital off the national grid and guaranteeing uninterrupted electricity for critical health services.
Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, said the project was borne out of a detailed energy audit conducted by the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
Chief Nnaji said that AKTH’s current connected load of 3.5MW and its monthly diesel expenditure of about N150 million made power supply through fossil fuels unsustainable.
“The solution is a decentralized, robust solar mini-grid. We are beginning with 4MW and scaling it up to 7MW. This will not only save costs but also guarantee uninterrupted power for thousands of staff and critical life-saving equipment,” the minister stated.
In a remark, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation and member representing Bichi Federal Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, said over N12 billion was committed to the project and is expected to make the hospital independent of the national grid.
The member who championed the project in the 2025 budget, said the intervention followed appeals made to him by Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of the teaching hospitals during the preparation of the 2025 appropriation bill.
He recalled that in November 2024, CMD of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, among others, raised concerns over the high cost of powering critical health facilities, sometimes spending up to N200 million monthly on electricity and diesel.
According to him, the issue was discussed with the leadership of the National Assembly and later taken to President Tinubu, who directed the inclusion of funds for solar hybrid projects in the 2025 budget.
He said the Federal Government had allocated N26 billion to AKTH for critical upgrades, including a stroke centre, radiology complex, accident and emergency facilities, and heart surgery equipment.
He assured that the contractor had been mobilized to deliver within the agreed timeframe.
“This intervention came after medical directors across the country raised concerns over the huge burden of power costs on teaching hospitals.
“We took the matter to Mr President, who graciously approved the funds. Kano, being one of the most populous states in Nigeria, will benefit significantly,” Bichi added.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Professor Abdulrahman Abba Sheshe, described the project as a “historic achievement” for the hospital and the health sector in Nigeria.
“Power is the lifeline of every hospital. With this project, AKTH will become the first hospital in Nigeria to operate independently of the national grid.
“This will greatly enhance service delivery and ensure patients on life support and other critical care facilities are not endangered by power interruptions,” Prof. Sheshe said.
The CMD also announced new welfare initiatives introduced by the hospital, including free neonatal care services for indigent parents, free Caesarean sections for low-income patients, and an emergency ambulance service to respond to critical cases at home.
The development comes days after AKTH suffered disconnection by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) over a disputed debt of N949 million, a crisis that endangered patients on life-support equipment and forced hospital management to appeal for urgent intervention.
