- The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital confirmed that three ICU patients died after a power cut linked to debts owed to Kano Electricity Distribution Company.
- While the hospital blamed the blackout, KEDCO denied responsibility, saying supply was restored earlier and accusing AKTH of resisting efforts to separate facilities from staff quarters.
- The police intervened, restoring electricity and brokering talks between both parties. AKTH has pledged to settle its debts and improve service stability.
The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) has confirmed that three patients in its Intensive Care Unit died after electricity supply was disconnected by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO). The blackout, which occurred on Friday, affected patients on life-support, leaving only one survivor out of four admitted.
AKTH’s spokesperson, Hauwa Inuwa Dutse, linked the incident to outstanding debts amounting to ₦949.88 million as of August, with an additional ₦108.95 million owed for that month.
KEDCO, however, denied responsibility, accusing the hospital of blackmail. The company’s spokesman, Sani Bala, claimed supply had been restored before the alarm was raised. He explained that the dispute stemmed from efforts to separate critical facilities from residential quarters, which management resisted. He also blamed unpaid staff quarters’ bills for inflating AKTH’s liabilities.
Following intervention by Kano State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, power was restored after a meeting between AKTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. A. Abba Sheshe, and KEDCO’s Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta.
The hospital has since thanked the police and KEDCO for their intervention, pledging to work towards settling its debts and assuring patients of improved medical service stability.
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