FG Targets 24-Hour Power for 30% of Health Facilities by 2027

ABUJA, August 4, 2026

For years, power outages have forced Nigerian hospitals to depend on noisy generators during surgeries, childbirth and emergency care.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Federal Government unveiled a fresh plan aimed at changing that reality.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the Federal Government has approved a financing framework and institutional reforms to accelerate the electrification of health facilities across Nigeria.

The approval was granted on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, during the third meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative. The programme is jointly coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Power.

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New Plan Targets Round-the-Clock Electricity

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the initiative aims to provide reliable 24-hour electricity to at least 30 per cent of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the committee also approved new governance structures, a facility energy management framework and further engagement with eight private sector investors selected from about 70 proposals received during the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Week held in Lagos.

Dr Salako described the approvals as another milestone in implementing the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative, which President Bola Tinubu established after the National Dialogue held in December 2025.

He said, “This is progress with respect to the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative that was established by Mr President after the National Dialogue in December 2025. The Steering Committee considered the report of the Technical Committee and members were particularly happy with the progress made so far.”

Government Approves New Funding Model

According to Salako, the committee approved a financing framework to mobilise private and public investments for healthcare electrification.

It also endorsed an energy management framework to help participating hospitals maintain their power infrastructure. He disclosed that Energy Management Teams already operate in federal tertiary hospitals.

He added that state governments have been encouraged to establish similar structures.

“Our goal, as approved by Mr President, is to ensure that we deliver reliable energy access to at least 30 per cent of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027 using public-private partnerships that prioritise energy-as-a-service delivery models,” Salako said.

Different Hospitals Will Get Different Solutions

The Minister of State for Health further stated that government would adopt technologies that suit each location. Furthermore, said hospitals would not receive identical energy systems.

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some facilities will use mini-grids, others may adopt gas-powered systems or other solutions. We will deploy whatever technology best suits each location,” he stated.

Meanwhile, he revealed that the Rural Electrification Agency has already installed containerised solar power systems in about 100 hospitals nationwide.

“We have used the eight months to build the governance structure. At the same time, electrification projects are ongoing at primary healthcare centres, secondary facilities through state governments and tertiary hospitals. The REA alone has energised about 100 hospitals nationwide,” he added.

Power Ministry Wants Projects Delivered

Also speaking on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe. Tegbe said the focus should now shift from announcements to completed projects.

He said, “Enough of groundbreaking and media events. We want to start commissioning projects. We want Nigerians to see teaching hospitals, state hospitals and primary healthcare centres that have been fully energised.”

He added that reliable electricity would improve patient care and reduce dependence on generators during emergencies.”I want us to stop this idea of rushing generators to hospitals during emergencies. That should become a thing of the past. Whatever resources are required, we will continue to prioritise this initiative while ensuring value for money,” he said.

Why Reliable Electricity Matters

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman, described uninterrupted electricity as essential for quality healthcare. He noted that hospitals require stable electricity to power medical equipment, preserve vaccines, support laboratory services and strengthen emergency response systems.

According to him, the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative represents a major collaboration between government, development partners and the private sector to solve one of Nigeria’s biggest healthcare infrastructure challenges, ValidViewNetwork reports.

Nigeria’s healthcare system has struggled for decades with unreliable electricity, forcing many hospitals to rely on diesel generators that increase operating costs and sometimes fail during critical procedures.

The success of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative will depend on sustained funding, timely project delivery and effective implementation. If the targets announced on August 4, 2026, are achieved, millions of patients could benefit from safer and more reliable healthcare services by the end of 2027, ValidViewNetwork reports.