3 patients die after electricity disconnection in Kano hospital
The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) has confirmed the death of three patients in its Intensive Care Unit following the disconnection of electricity supply by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO). The hospital said the blackout directly affected patients on life-support machines.
Chief Information Officer of the hospital, Hauwa Inuwa Dutse, disclosed that the incident happened on Friday when four patients were on admission.
According to her, three of them could not survive the sudden loss of power, leaving only one under critical care.
The disconnection was reportedly linked to outstanding debts owed by the hospital, amounting to ₦949.88 million as of the end of August, in addition to an unsettled bill of ₦108.95 million for that month.
KEDCO denies responsibility
In response, KEDCO denied responsibility for the deaths, accusing the hospital of attempting to blackmail the company. Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala, insisted that electricity supply had already been restored before the hospital raised the alarm.
He explained that the dispute stemmed from efforts to separate the hospital’s critical medical facilities from staff residential quarters to ensure stable power supply. According to him, management at AKTH resisted the move, insisting that residences remain on the same feeder line.
Bala further alleged that unpaid bills from the residential quarters had significantly contributed to the hospital’s rising liabilities.
He noted that AKTH’s main facilities are connected to a Band A feeder, which delivers an average of 22 hours of electricity daily, and urged the hospital to settle its debts in good faith.
Police broker truce
The Kano State Police Command has since intervened to resolve the dispute, restoring power supply to the teaching hospital.
A meeting chaired by Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, brought together AKTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. A. Abba Sheshe, and KEDCO Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta.
Following the deliberations, KEDCO ordered immediate restoration of electricity while discussions continue on long-term solutions.
The police stressed that their action was necessary to prevent further loss of lives and to safeguard security in the state.
In a statement after the resolution, AKTH expressed appreciation to the police and KEDCO management for their intervention.
The hospital also pledged to address its outstanding bills while assuring patients and staff of improved stability in medical services going forward.
