Ibadan Indigenes Demand Investigation into UCH Power Outages

Ibadan indigenes, represented by the Legacy Stars of Ibadan (LSI), are calling on the federal government to investigate the persistent power outages at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. The group, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of Health Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has voiced concerns over the ongoing disruption of services at the hospital due to frequent electricity cuts.

In a statement issued following their meeting on December 1, 2024, LSI urged immediate federal intervention to address the issue. The statement, signed by LSI President Mogaji Saheed Oyewale and Secretary Barrister Kazeem Oladepo, outlined the severe impact these outages have had on the hospital’s daily operations, which is struggling under mounting debts to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

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The power outages at UCH began in March but were temporarily resolved after some intervention. However, the group pointed out that electricity was recently disconnected again, worsening the situation. The group stressed that the power cuts were endangering critical medical services, potentially jeopardizing patient care.

“We believe that as a tertiary healthcare institution, UCH should not be in such a deplorable state. The federal government must step in to resolve these issues and ensure the hospital is properly managed,” the LSI statement emphasized.