A recent three-day power outage at the Minna General Hospital in Niger State has cast a shadow over the facility, resulting in heartbreaking losses and alarming conditions for patients. The power failure, caused by the depletion of the hospital’s prepaid meter, plunged the hospital into darkness, leaving newborn babies crying in the absence of life-saving equipment and procedures.
A video shared by a human rights radio programme and obtained by Chronicles Reporters shows some newborns crying in pitch darkness due to the blackout. According to sources, the blackout was a result of the prepaid meter running out of credit, and the hospital was left without power for three consecutive days.
One source explained the severe consequences of frequent power cuts, recalling a past incident: “We lost about six babies when the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) went on strike, and there was a power failure,” the source shared, emphasizing the dangerous effects of power interruptions on vulnerable patients.
A mother who was at the hospital during the recent blackout recounted a tragic event. She explained, “There was a woman scheduled for a cesarean section on Saturday to deliver her twins, but just before the surgery, the power was cut. We had to wait for the electricity to be restored, which only happened by Sunday. Unfortunately, the babies didn’t survive, and the mother fought for her life too.”
Another heartbreaking story came from a source who lost her daughter in the same hospital due to the power failure. She shared, “My beloved 9-month-old daughter passed away in Minna General Hospital while on oxygen, which was cut off during the outage. The sound of her struggling to breathe and the other babies in the ward that night is still fresh in my memory. It’s been six years, and the hospital hasn’t changed. I pray that a permanent solution is found.”
In light of these ongoing issues, concerned citizens are calling on Governor Umar Bago to urgently address the situation. They are urging him to provide reliable power sources such as solar or generators, backed by sufficient funding, to ensure the hospital operates without the risk of prolonged power outages.
The state’s ongoing power challenges have also led to increased dependence on volunteers who provide diesel for the hospital’s backup generators. However, the sustainability of this support is uncertain, and many worry it is not a long-term solution.
A similar incident occurred in 2022 when a Facebook user posted about the desperate conditions at the hospital: “At 7:45 pm, we entered the General Hospital in Minna. Families were forced to fetch water and fuel, and those who couldn’t bear the conditions moved their patients to private hospitals.”
At the time of writing, attempts to reach the Niger State Commissioner of Information, Binta Manman, and the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, for comment had not received a response.
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