Three patients died at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital after KEDCO disconnected power supply over a debt dispute
Three patients on life support at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) have died after the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) disconnected power supply to the facility over an outstanding debt of nearly N950 million.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Monday, the hospital’s spokesperson, Hauwa Dutse, said four patients were on ventilatory support in the Intensive Care Unit when the blackout occurred, but three of them did not survive.
On that very day, Friday, there were four patients on admission, and due to the power outage, three of them died, Dutse explained. She added that the crisis was later resolved following an urgent meeting involving AKTH management, KEDCO officials, and the Kano State Police Command.
The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, wishes to inform the general public that the matter has been resolved amicably in collaboration with KEDCO and the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Bakori. The management of AKTH expresses its sincere appreciation to the Commissioner of Police and the Managing Director of KEDCO for their timely support and concern during this challenging period, Dutse stated.
KEDCO, however, defended its action. In a separate statement, the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala, said the hospital owed N949.88 million as of the end of August and must still settle its August bill of N108.95 million in full within 10 working days or face further sanctions.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the vulnerability of public hospitals to utility disputes, with calls mounting for critical health facilities to be shielded from electricity cut-offs to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
Edited by Aremu Toyeebaht
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