Power Minister Woos Investors, Unveils Plan to Electrify 35,000 Health Facilities Nationwide

By Pan Afric Reporters

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to revolutionise healthcare delivery through reliable electricity supply, with the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, calling on local and international investors to seize what he described as one of Africa’s most promising infrastructure investment opportunities.

Tegbe made the call at the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Forum held under the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI) at the Lagos Civic Centre, Victoria Island, where he outlined plans to deploy sustainable energy solutions across more than 35,000 healthcare facilities nationwide.

According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Power and signed by Mr. Clement Ezeorah, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, the minister stressed that dependable electricity remains critical to effective healthcare delivery and national development.

Addressing government officials, development partners, healthcare administrators and private sector investors at the forum, Tegbe said the electrification of healthcare facilities presents a vast pipeline of bankable projects capable of attracting significant domestic and foreign investment.

“Reliable electricity is not merely an infrastructure requirement but a fundamental pillar of healthcare delivery,” Tegbe stated.

He noted that the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing power sector reforms aimed at strengthening critical infrastructure and improving public services.

The minister revealed that the initiative offers opportunities for investments in solar mini-grids, hybrid power systems, battery storage technologies, energy efficiency solutions, smart metering, facility energy management systems, operations and maintenance services, as well as climate-resilient infrastructure.

Highlighting the scale of the programme, Tegbe pointed to the existence of over 35,000 registered health facilities across Nigeria’s primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare levels.

“This represents a substantial pipeline of bankable projects capable of attracting local and international capital into the healthcare energy sector,” he said.

Drawing from his decades of experience in public sector reform and infrastructure development, the minister assured investors that the Federal Government was committed to providing policy support, institutional coordination and regulatory stability to ensure the success of the initiative.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Power is already implementing similar interventions through the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project, which has delivered solar mini-grids and hybrid energy systems to several healthcare facilities across the country.

Tegbe further explained that the Electricity Act provides a strong legal and regulatory framework for structuring Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), licensing mini-grid operators and enabling active participation by state governments in electricity projects.

“The strength of any framework lies not in the ambition of its vision but in the quality of its structure,” the minister said, assuring stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue to drive inter-ministerial collaboration to guarantee implementation.

He reiterated the administration’s determination to position Nigeria as Africa’s preferred destination for quality healthcare services through strategic investments in power infrastructure.

“We remain committed to delivering visible and measurable improvements in the power sector, with healthcare facilities receiving priority attention,” Tegbe added.

Also speaking at the forum, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative as a transformative shift from traditional donor-funded infrastructure models to a sustainable Energy-as-a-Service framework.

According to Salako, the initiative will enable specialised providers to finance, deploy and maintain reliable power systems for healthcare facilities, thereby addressing the persistent energy challenges affecting operating theatres, diagnostic centres, cold chain systems and emergency medical services.

He explained that the programme is built on blended financing mechanisms, institutional readiness and national scalability, with an initial focus on federal tertiary hospitals before expanding to healthcare facilities across all levels nationwide.

“The framework is designed to tackle energy poverty in the health sector while unlocking private investment and ensuring long-term sustainability,” Salako said.

The forum brought together representatives of federal and state governments, chief medical directors, development partners and private sector stakeholders to explore financing opportunities and strengthen partnerships aimed at achieving universal healthcare electrification in Nigeria.

Industry stakeholders described the initiative as a major step towards improving healthcare outcomes, reducing operational costs and strengthening the resilience of Nigeria’s health system through sustainable energy solutions.