CLAIM: Nigerian Universities’ Teaching Hospitals Have No Solar Power Infrastructure
On April 29, 2025, an X user, @princeujay made a claim that major public hospitals in Nigeria do not have alternative solar power supply.
The post contains an image of a nurse carrying a placard with the following written on it. “National Hospital Abuja – No Solar Panel. LUTH Lagos No Solar Panel. UCH Ibadan No Solar Panel. ABUTH No Solar Panel. Aso Rock 10 Billion Naira Solar Panel”.
And with the caption “Renewed Hope indeed! No Solar in any of these Naija top teaching hospitals but the FG is spending ₦10 billion on Aso Rock. When you have leaders that reason upside down”.
As at the time this report was published, it had garnered about 1,090 views and 50 replies, likes, retweets and quotes. However, the same claims with the nurse carrying the same placard were found on Facebook, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram and X, here, and here.
VERIFICATION
In order to verify this claim, NV-A conducted a keyword search, results showed that solar power installation at these various hospitals were primarily sponsored through private donations and partnerships, as there is no report indicating direct funding by the Federal Government.
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)
In May 2024, LUTH took a step towards embracing solar energy into its power supply system. The hospital inaugurated a 20 kilowatts power facility to maintain stable health delivery to its patients. This was achieved through partnership with a start-up energy company.
The hospital also got donations from individuals and companies. In December 2024, the hospital received a 40 kilowatts solar inverter to block B,C,D of the paediatrics ward. Also in April 2025, the hospital received a donation of 12.5kVA/ 20 kilowatts energy solar power which was installed at ward A2 of the hospital.
University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH)
In August 2023, the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan in partnership with the Rotimi Akeredolu Foundation, SAO Energy installed a 36,000Wp PV array solar system with battery storage, generating up to 80kWh at the hospital. This was aimed at achieving an uninterrupted power supply to essential dialysis machines and other medical equipment, ensuring high-quality patient care.
Similarly in February 2025, while debunking the claim that the families and loved ones of patients at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan brought generators and inverters to the hospital in order for patients to get an effective medical treatment, the PRO of the Hospital, Mrs Funmi Adetuyibi reiterated that it works on alternative solar power to provide adequate treatment for its patients.
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital
In June 2024, the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, ABUTH, Chief Medical Director Prof. Ahmed Hamidu announced the hospital’s plans to transition to renewable power energy. He stated that each of the critical departments and unit blocks at the hospital would gradually transition to renewable energy sources over time, citing that the reasons for this transition is the facility’s monthly electricity consumption of N75 million.
On May 8, 2025, it was announced that the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, was among the eight public universities that signed a collaboration agreement with the Rural Electrification Agency, REA for solar power plants. ABUTH will benefit from the ABU’s 10MW as captured in the agreement.
This is part of the federal government’s move to provide alternative solar energy power to major public facilities in Nigeria. This is cited in the 2025 budget which was passed into law on February 28, 2025 and 100 billion naira has been allocated to achieving the project which is managed by the REA.
VERDICT
The claim that LUTH, UCH IBADAN, and ABUTH do not run on alternative solar energy power supply is FALSE. Findings show that these hospitals use solar energy as an alternative source of power funded by individuals, NGOs and foundations. Meanwhile, the federal government is also funding solar infrastructure projects in universities including their teaching hospitals.
