Teaching Hospital Raises Alarm Over Outrageous ₦107 Million December Electricity Bill
The Management of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA) Wednesday raised an alarm over the outrageous N107 million December electricity bill and escalating tariff by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.
Briefing Newsmen at the Hospital complex in Abakaliki, the Director of Administration (D.A), Mr. Calistus Azubike Okonkwo who described electricity bill as outrageous, unjustifiable, and unsustainable called on the general public, relevant authorities, and key stakeholders to intervene in the ugly development.
Giving an analysis of the astronomical rise in the electricity bill issued by EEDC to the health Institution, Okonkwo noted that “In December 2025, AEFUTHA was served with an electricity bill of One Hundred and Seven Million, Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Naira, Seventy-Two Kobo (₦107,006,620.72) for a single billing cycle.”
According to him, the December bill represents an unprecedented escalation in electricity charges and poses a grave threat to the sustainability of essential healthcare services provided by the hospital.
He said: “A review of the hospital’s electricity billing pattern over the past twelve (12) months reveals a disturbing and consistent upward trajectory. Bills issued by EEDC increased from ₦26.5 million in January to ₦71.5 million in November, before surging to ₦107 million in December (300% increase in the bill).
“Notably, in 2023 and 2024, AEFUTHA’s monthly electricity bills were consistently below ₦20 million, making the current charges grossly disproportionate and difficult to justify.”
The Director of Administration who was not happy with situation EEDC had placed the hospital stressed that “despite this, hospital management has consistently met its obligations and ensured that payment was made in good faith to guarantee uninterrupted patient care and service delivery.”
He further stated that since the inception of the current Chief Medical Director, Prof. Robinson Chukwudi Onoh, electricity charges to the hospital have continued to rise steadily without any explanation from EEDC management on the reason for the ugly trend.
“However, the magnitude of the December bill has reached a breaking point. If this trend continues unchecked, AEFUTHA risks paying over One Billion Naira annually on electricity bills alone.
This is clearly unsustainable for a public tertiary health institution whose core mandate includes patient care, training, research, and public health service delivery.” He added
Okonkwo made it clear that the Management of the hospital was deeply concerned about the methodology behind the billing, particularly the high charges associated with unmetered accounts, and hereby demands an immediate review of the accuracy and transparency of EEDC’s billing system as it applies to the hospital.
He said: “It is also important to place the December electricity bill in proper context. In October 2025, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on industrial action, while on 14 November 2025, the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) commenced an indefinite strike.
“As a result of these industrial actions, hospital services and activities were significantly reduced, with many departments paralysed and overall energy consumption expected to be substantially lower during this period.
“Surprisingly, despite this marked reduction in hospital activities, AEFUTHA’s electricity bill jumped from ₦71,547,854.77 in November to ₦107,006,620.72 in December.
“This outrageous increase raises serious questions about the basis upon which EEDC arrived at the tariff, especially in the face of reduced operations and lower electricity consumption within the hospital.”
The Director of Administration emphasized that AEFUTHA as a life-saving institution operates critical facilities that must function round-the-clock, including intensive care units, neonatal units, operating theatres, diagnostic and laboratory services as any disruption in power supply or financial strangulation caused by excessive billing could directly endanger the lives of patients in the hospital.
According to him, health is an essential service, and lives lost due to power failure cannot be restored.
“AEFUTHA is a non-profit public health institution, willing and committed to paying fair and verifiable utility bills. However, bills of this magnitude are beyond the hospital’s capacity to sustain without compromising service delivery.
“The Management of AEFUTHA therefore calls on the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), relevant regulatory agencies, the Government of Ebonyi State, the Federal Ministry of Power, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other concerned authorities to urgently intervene by reviewing the hospital’s tariff classification, auditing the billing system, and ensuring the adoption of a fair, transparent, and sustainable electricity tariff befitting a public tertiary healthcare institution.
“The hospital also appeals for a downward review of its monthly electricity bill to less than ₦20 million, in line with historical billing patterns. Furthermore, Management appeals for a waiver on outstanding arrears, while reaffirming its commitment to promptly settle all verified bills as and when due going forward.
“AEFUTHA remains committed to accountability, transparency, and the delivery of quality healthcare services. In the spirit of public interest and advocacy, this press conference is convened to prevent a situation where exorbitant utility costs cripple essential health services meant for the masses.
“The Management appreciates the continued support and understanding of the media and the general public as efforts are intensified to resolve this matter amicably, transparently, and sustainably.” He concludes.
