Speaking at the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Forum held in Lagos, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the country presents significant investment opportunities in energy infrastructure, particularly in powering hospitals and other healthcare institutions.
The forum, organised under the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI), was convened by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with UK PACT and hosted by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isiaq Salako. It brought together government officials, development partners, healthcare administrators, investors and private-sector stakeholders to explore pathways for expanding electricity access across health facilities nationwide.
Tegbe described the power sector as one of the most attractive investment destinations in Africa, stressing that reliable electricity remains a critical component of effective healthcare delivery.
“Reliable electricity is not merely an infrastructure requirement but a fundamental pillar of healthcare delivery,” the minister said.
He commended the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for championing the initiative and revealed that his involvement with the NPHI predates his appointment as Minister of Power.
According to him, the programme aligns closely with ongoing reforms in the electricity sector and supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to improve essential services and drive economic growth.
Tegbe explained that the initiative provides an opportunity to integrate energy planning into healthcare infrastructure development through the deployment of grid improvements, renewable energy technologies and hybrid power systems tailored to the needs of hospitals and clinics.
“The initiative is also aimed at strengthening coordination between power sector institutions, health authorities, regulators, and private sector partners,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of opportunities available to investors, the minister disclosed that Nigeria currently has more than 35,000 registered healthcare facilities spread across primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care.
He noted that the vast number of facilities represents a sizeable pipeline of viable projects capable of attracting investment into solar mini-grids, battery storage technologies, hybrid energy systems and energy-efficiency solutions.
“This is a substantial pipeline of bankable projects capable of attracting local and international capital into solar mini-grids, hybrid energy systems, battery storage, as well as energy efficiency technologies,” Tegbe stated.
The minister assured potential investors that the Federal Government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for investments through strong policy support, inter-ministerial collaboration and regulatory certainty.
“The strength of the framework lies not in the ambition of its vision, but in the quality of its structure,” he said, adding that government commitment would remain central to the success of the programme.
Tegbe further disclosed that the Ministry of Power has already demonstrated practical support for healthcare electrification through the deployment of solar mini-grids and hybrid energy systems under the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project.
He noted that the Electricity Act now provides a solid legal and regulatory foundation for initiatives such as power purchase agreements, mini-grid licensing and increased participation by state governments in electricity projects.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes through reliable energy access, Tegbe said the initiative supports the broader vision of positioning Nigeria as Africa’s preferred destination for quality healthcare services.
He also expressed appreciation to investors, development partners and stakeholders who continue to support the country's development aspirations.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isiaq Salako, described the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative as a major departure from the traditional donor-funded infrastructure model towards a more sustainable and commercially viable approach.
According to Salako, the programme adopts an Energy-as-a-Service model under which specialised providers finance, install and maintain reliable power systems for health facilities.
He explained that the approach is designed to address the persistent energy challenges affecting critical healthcare services, including surgical operations, vaccine storage, diagnostic services and emergency medical care.
“Under NPHI, specialised providers finance, deploy and maintain reliable power systems for health facilities, addressing the energy poverty undermining operating theatres, cold chain systems, diagnostics and emergency care,” Salako said.
He added that the framework is built on blended financing mechanisms, institutional readiness and national scalability. While the initial phase targets federal tertiary hospitals, plans are underway to expand coverage to primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities across the country.
Salako noted that a new governance structure has also been established to accelerate implementation, attract private-sector participation and unlock long-term investment into healthcare electrification.
The initiative is expected to play a significant role in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system by ensuring that hospitals and clinics have access to stable and reliable electricity, a critical factor in delivering quality healthcare services and improving patient outcomes nationwide.