The Nigerian government on Thursday inaugurated a 1.5-megawatt solar hybrid mini-grid at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Dala, Kano, aimed at boosting reliable and affordable electricity for medical services.
Abba Abubakar-Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), said the project is part of President Bola Tinubu’s National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative, which seeks to strengthen power supply in key public institutions.
The event also saw the presentation of a 1.5-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, donated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), to the hospital.
“The Honourable Minister of Power has directed us to enhance the reliability, affordability, and sustainability of electricity in key public institutions. Today, we issue the groundbreaking for the deployment of 1.5 megawatts of hybrid mini-grid to this historic medical institution,” Abubakar-Aliyu said.
He noted that similar solar projects have been implemented in 15 federal universities, including one in Kano, where the system was recently upgraded to six megawatts. He added that the new installation will ensure uninterrupted power for the hospital’s MRI machine.
Dr. Nurudeen Isa, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, described the intervention as “timely and lifesaving,” noting that hospitals have struggled with high electricity costs, relying heavily on diesel generators.
“This intervention will significantly reduce costs and make services, including MRI scans, more affordable for patients,” Isa said, adding that electricity remains the largest operational cost for hospitals.
The hospital, established in 1959, was selected for the project due to its long history of providing specialized care and its rising energy demands.
The final cost of the mini-grid installation will depend on upgrades to the hospital’s distribution network and metering requirements, Abubakar-Aliyu said.