The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, resumed the supply of electricity to the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan after more than 100 days of disconnection.
Chairman of UCH Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Mr. Oladayo Olabampe, made the disclosure in Ibadan, Oyo State.
IBEDC had disconnected UCH on Oct. 26 over accumulated debts, leading to series of events which included students at the College embarking on peaceful protests.
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and the IBEDC management had a meeting at the UCH on Monday on the power restoration.
After the meeting, it was resolved that IBEDC should reconnect the hospital within 24 and not later than 48 hours counting from that Monday.
Olabampe said power was restored to the hospital at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
He, however, stated that only the service area was reconnected, with the residential area still in total darkness as at then.
“Even though the residential areas use prepaid meters, yet they were disconnected.
“While we agree that the service areas are important, the people rendering the service are equally important.
“The residential areas and commercial areas including banks and schools are disconnected. We have been in darkness for months now, so we feel bad about this,” Olabampe said.
The UCH Spokesperson, Mrs. Funmi Adetuyibi, also confirmed that light has been restored at the clinical area of the hospital.
Part of the conditions given by Adelabu at the meeting on power restoration was that residential areas, commercial areas and College of Medicine could be disconnected.
Adelabu said these areas contributed mostly to the high cost of energy used at the hospital.
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko