The Minister of Energy, Bayo Adelabu, has assured that electrical energy provide to the College School Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, might be restored inside 24 to 48 hours.
This dedication follows a closed-door assembly on Monday between the Minister, the Administration of UCH, and the Ibadan Electrical energy Distribution Firm (IBEDC).
The hospital has been disconnected from the nationwide grid since October 2024, leaving medical employees and college students in darkness for over 101 days.
Mr Adelabu gave the reassurance at a press convention held after the assembly, the place he addressed college students of the College of Ibadan, who staged a peaceable protest demanding pressing restoration of energy to UCH.
The minister urged the scholars to stay affected person whereas the federal government labored in direction of a sustainable resolution.
The hospital has suffered persistent energy outages because of unpaid electrical energy debt owed to the IBEDC.
Protesting college students demand
College students of UI staged one other protest carrying placards with messages reminiscent of “+100 Days of Darkness: Save UCH” and “Medical College Is Arduous Sufficient—Give Us Mild”, demanding pressing motion from the federal government.
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The College students’ Union President, Aweda Bolaji, stated the scholars are demanding speedy restoration of energy to UCH.
Mr Bolaji additionally referred to as for the implementation of the 50 per cent tariff discount promised final yr, in addition to complete reforms in electrical energy provide to the hospital.
“Honourable Minister, you’re standing earlier than the presence of 36,000 UI college students. We’re right here to register our displeasure and ask why you might have determined to do that to the heritage of Ibadan. The best medical establishment in Nigeria has skilled a blackout for over 101 days,” he stated.
The scholars additionally requested an pressing reformation of the well being sector, amongst others.
Authorities’s response, guarantees
Following a closed-door assembly between the Minister, the UCH Administration, and IBEDC, Mr Adelabu addressed the scholars, assuring them that energy can be restored inside 24-48 hours.
He defined that the time-frame was vital to make sure correct reconnection and urged college students to stay affected person whereas a long-term resolution was put in place.
The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Jesse Otegbayo, counseled the scholars for his or her peaceable protest, acknowledging that the hospital administration had restricted management over the scenario.
Mr Otegbayo appreciated the Minister’s intervention, stating that concrete resolutions had been reached to resolve the disaster.
The Managing Director of IBEDC, Francis Agoha, additionally assured college students that an settlement had been reached to revive energy and forestall future occurrences.
Regardless of the guarantees, college students remained sceptical and demanded additional clarification on the timeline and specifics of the facility restoration plan.
Some expressed dissatisfaction with the shortage of speedy implementation and threatened to protest once more on Thursday if energy was not restored as promised.
Mr Adelabu urged the scholars to embrace dialogue and permit the proposed resolutions to take impact.He additionally facilitated a truce between IBEDC and UCH to stop future disconnections because of unresolved monetary disputes.
Lengthy-term plans for a sustainable resolution
Mr Adelabu emphasised that the federal government was dedicated to addressing energy provide points in UCH and comparable establishments just like the College of Benin Educating Hospital (UBTH) and Lagos College Educating Hospital (LUTH).
He highlighted key resolutions, together with speedy reconnection to the nationwide grid, correct energy distribution evaluation and the introduction of a solar-powered mini-grid.
“That we’ve got come right here as we speak means we’re dedicated to discovering a long-lasting resolution. Do you suppose I might be blissful when the premier hospital in Ibadan is in darkness?” Mr Adelabu stated.
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