Tragically, at least three patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano State have lost their lives following a recent power outage caused by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).
Mrs. Hauwa Inuwa Dutse, the hospital’s spokesperson, confirmed to reporters in Kano that four patients were receiving critical care in the ICU when the electricity supply was abruptly cut off.
“There were four patients in the ICU at the time of the power failure. Sadly, three passed away while one survived,” she revealed.
Earlier on Monday evening, Mrs. Dutse issued a statement announcing that power had been restored to the hospital after a high-level meeting involving key stakeholders.
The restoration followed discussions between AKTH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Abdurrahman Sheshe; KEDCO’s Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Jimeta; and Kano State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Bakori.
Following the talks, the KEDCO Managing Director promptly instructed engineers to reconnect the hospital to the national power grid.
“Hospital management extends sincere appreciation to both the Police Commissioner and KEDCO’s Managing Director for their prompt action during this difficult time for our institution,” Mrs. Dutse stated.
She also expressed gratitude to the public for their patience throughout the outage and reiterated the hospital’s dedication to clearing all outstanding electricity debts. Patient safety and uninterrupted healthcare delivery remain the hospital’s foremost priorities.
On the other hand, KEDCO, through its spokesperson Bala Sani, issued a statement confirming that power supply to AKTH had been reinstated. However, the company dismissed claims that the disconnection was responsible for the fatalities, accusing the hospital of attempting to manipulate public opinion.
Sani explained that the outage occurred amid efforts to separate the hospital’s main campus-which is connected to a priority 33kV feeder providing approximately 22 hours of daily electricity-from the staff residential quarters.
He noted that AKTH’s management opposed this separation, which led to technical complications within the system.
“As of August 2025, the hospital’s outstanding electricity bills totaled N949,880,922.45, with only partial payments being made monthly,” Sani disclosed.
He emphasized that the separation was essential to guarantee a stable power supply to the hospital and urged the management to cooperate fully to prevent future disruptions to this vital healthcare service.
“The hospital’s claims are an attempt to blackmail us, especially since power was restored even before their public statements,” Sani added.
The spokesperson reiterated that the incident stemmed from ongoing efforts to disconnect the main hospital and health facilities from the staff residential area to ensure prioritized and reliable electricity delivery.
“The main hospital campus and associated health facilities are connected to the high-priority 33kV Zaria Road feeder, which provides an average of 22 hours of daily power under Band A service classification,” he concluded.
