Power has finally been restored to the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan after three months of blackout. The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) reconnected the teaching hospital to the power grid yesterday, bringing an end to the prolonged outage.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, confirmed the development. The blackout had started after IBEDC cut off electricity supply due to an outstanding debt running into millions of naira. The disconnection caused significant challenges for the hospital, which had to find alternative ways to power critical areas.
The situation caught the attention of the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, who visited the hospital to mediate between IBEDC and the hospital management. Following the intervention, IBEDC pledged to restore electricity within 24 to 48 hours.
At first, when asked if power had been restored, Professor Otegbayo confirmed it but mentioned that IBEDC had detected a fault outside the hospital, which their technical team was working on. Later, he sent a final confirmation, saying, “IBEDC power is now on in University College Hospital, Ibadan.”
During the blackout, the hospital management took steps to lessen the impact on critical services. Professor Otegbayo explained that solar inverters were installed in key areas like the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Children’s Emergency Ward, Endoscopic Unit, and Cardiac Unit. These emergency measures ensured that essential departments continued to function despite the power outage.
“We have installed solar inverters to major areas in the hospital such as Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Emergency Ward, Endoscopic Unit, Cardiac unit, and others,” he noted.
He also pointed out that some of the hospital’s underground cables had been in use for over 50 years, making it difficult to address all power issues within the hospital’s budget.
Meanwhile, the hospital denied reports that patients were bringing their own generators for power. The management clarified that several departments had lights, thanks to the installed solar systems.
