No fewer than three patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano lost their lives as a result of the power outage produced by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).
This was confirmed by the hospital’s spokespeson, Hauwa Inuwa Dutse, who told newsmen that there were four patients in the ICU when light was cut off.
Yes, four patients were in the ICU when the electricity supply was shut off. Three passed away, one survived,” she continued.
Dutse has since issued a statement on Monday night, stating that power supply to the hospital was reinstated following an emergency meeting between AKTH Chief Medical Director, Professor Abdurrahman Sheshe; KEDCO’s Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Jimeta; and Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Bakori.
The KEDCO boss directed the engineers to restore the hospital to the national power grid moments after the meeting, she said. She also added that the hospital will keep paying its outstanding electricity bill while maintaining patient safety and uninterrupted provision of healthcare services.
Meanwhile, KEDCO has categorically denied involvement in the killings and dismissed the hospital’s accusation as a bid at “blackmail.” In a company statement endorsed by spokesperson Bala Sani, the firm said it did it in an effort to demarcate its main campus from residential areas for staff.
Sani added that the main hospital buildings are served by a priority 33kV feeder supplying an average of 22 hours daily, but noted that AKTH did not adhere to the process of separation, leading to system faults.
He further revealed that as at August 2025, AKTH had defaulted on paying the company over ₦949 million in cumulative electricity charges and made partial monthly payments only.
“The hospital is just trying to blackmail us. Power had already been restored before their public ranting,” Sani said, stressing that the cooperation of the hospital management was needed in order to achieve stable power for vital health interventions.
