University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, has finally regained electricity after enduring a 16-day blackout due to a disconnection by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The disconnection was a result of an outstanding debt amounting to N495 million, accumulated over six years.
The power restoration, which occurred around 6:30 pm on Thursday, came after the hospital management took steps to address the issue.
Part of the debt, totaling N80 million, was paid, and an agreement was reached with IBEDC on a repayment plan for the remaining amount.
During the blackout period, the hospital faced significant challenges, with workers resorting to rechargeable lamps to attend to patients.
Many wards operated at minimal capacity, leading to patient discharges, while critical cases were still admitted, albeit with difficulties.
In response to the outage, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) had previously announced limited working hours for staff, citing the lack of electricity as a major hindrance to their duties.
However, with power now restored, normal operations are expected to resume fully.
