The Oyo State Government and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) are in a heated dispute regarding a power outage that has plagued the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan for over 100 days. Since October 2024, UCH has been disconnected from the national grid due to an outstanding debt of N283 million owed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
On Monday, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu visited the hospital and met with its management, led by Prof. Jesse Otegbayo. After discussions, IBEDC promised to restore power to UCH within 48 hours.
The APC criticized Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration for ignoring the crisis at UCH, which is located near the Governor’s Office. Publicity Secretary Olawale Sadare expressed disappointment at the government’s perceived negligence, stating that the prolonged outage has adversely affected hospital staff, students, and patients. In response, the APC commended the Minister for facilitating a resolution between UCH and IBEDC.
Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Media, countered these claims, asserting that the power crisis was rooted in the Federal Government’s failure to subsidize electricity costs for hospitals. He condemned the APC for politicizing the issue and urged them to recognize the federal government’s shortcomings in addressing the problem.
This ongoing conflict highlights the political tensions in Oyo State as both parties grapple with the implications of a critical power crisis affecting public health services.
