ABUTH moves to check high electricity bill

From: Femi Oyelola Kaduna

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Kaduna State, Prof Ahmed Hamidu, has announced plans by the hospital for transition to Renewable Energy.
Prof. Hamidu asserted this during an interview with journalists at his office in Zaria, saying that the provision of energy is one of the biggest challenges suffered by the facility.
According to him, around N240 million was paid as an outstanding payment to Kaduna Electric last year, with over N200 million accumulated by the end of the year for energy costs.
The CMD revealed that due to the increase in energy tariff, the sum of N25 million was paid for the monthly bills and an outstanding bill of N75 million to KEDCO.
Given the expenses, he explained that each of the critical departments and unit blocks at the hospital would need to gradually transition to renewable energy sources over time to save the cost of electricity.
He also revealed that all funds in the hospital, including those from patients who pay for services and other consumables have been exhausted while trying to cover the hospital’s energy costs, with nothing left for consumable goods.
He emphasized that this means the departments that generate these funds or procure these consumables will not be able to function.
He used the medium to appeal to the government to address the issue, adding that unless something is done, the quality of services provided will decline.
“I can tell you that the greatest challenge we are facing now is energy. Last year, we paid around N240 million as an outstanding payment to Kaduna Electric. By the end of the year, it accumulated over N200 million again.”