FG Approves Financing Framework To Electrify 30% Of Health Facilities By 2027

The federal government has approved a financing framework and key institutional reforms to accelerate the electrification of health facilities across the country, targeting reliable 24-hour electricity in at least 30 per cent of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027.

The approval was granted on Tuesday at the third meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC) of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI), a presidential initiative jointly coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Power to expand sustainable energy access in the health sector.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq  Salako, said the committee approved a financing framework, endorsed institutional reforms and cleared eight private sector proposals for further engagement to fast-track implementation of the initiative.

“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. Today, the National Steering Committee is meeting for the third time.

“The Steering Committee has considered the report of the Technical Committee, and members were particularly happy with the progress made so far. The membership reflects a broad partnership involving the federal government, state governments, the private sector and development partners,” Salako said.

He explained that the committee also approved a facility energy management framework to ensure that every participating health institution has a structured system for managing its energy assets.

According to him, Energy Management Teams have already been established in federal tertiary hospitals, while state governments have been encouraged to set up similar structures in their own health facilities.

Salako disclosed that the committee approved continued engagement with eight private sector proposals shortlisted from about 70 submissions received during the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Week held in Lagos.

He added that the initiative would be institutionalised through dedicated budgetary provisions and the establishment of a Project Coordination Unit with full-time staff to oversee implementation.

In his opening remarks, the minister recalled that the initiative stemmed from the National Power for Health Dialogue held in September 2025, after which President Bola Tinubu approved the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative and its governance structure in December 2025.

He said the governance framework comprises the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee jointly chaired by the Minister of State for Health and the Minister of Power, an inter-agency Technical Committee, Facility Energy Management Teams in health institutions and a Project Coordination Unit.

“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.

He noted that most federal tertiary hospitals have already constituted Facility Energy Management Teams, while a national guideline has been developed to strengthen energy management across healthcare facilities.

The minister further revealed that the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has installed containerised solar power systems in about 100 hospitals nationwide, while several development partners are supporting similar renewable energy projects at the primary healthcare level.