The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday, gave the Jos Electricity Distribution Company a 78-hour ultimatum to restore power supply to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, condemning what it described as a “reckless and unjustifiable” disconnection that endangers lives.

Speaking during a press briefing, the Financial Secretary of NANS Zone E, Muhammad Garba, said the association was alarmed that electricity to such a critical health facility could be cut off at a time when the hospital is undergoing major reforms and infrastructure upgrades.

“This disconnection is not only irresponsible but dangerous,” Garba said. “It disrupts critical medical services, endangers patient care, and threatens the well-being of the entire Gombe community.”

He added that Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, has in recent months recorded notable improvements aimed at meeting international healthcare standards, making the power cut even more concerning.

“The hospital management has shown exceptional commitment to transparency, modernization and quality service delivery,” he noted. “No external body should undermine these achievements through arbitrary actions.”

NANS faulted JEDC for what it called a lack of sensitivity in its operations, insisting that hospitals and academic institutions should never be treated as ordinary revenue outlets.

“Hospitals and schools are vital social service institutions,” Garba said. “JEDC must explore alternative avenues to resolve its issues instead of placing innocent Nigerian lives at risk.”

The association called on the Gombe State Government to urgently liaise with the Federal Ministry of Power, the Federal Ministry of Health, and relevant security agencies to ensure the immediate reconnection of the hospital. It also urged security agencies to monitor the situation to prevent any escalation.

NANS warned that failure by the distribution company to restore electricity within the stipulated 78 hours would trigger mass student mobilization and other lawful actions.

“If power is not restored, we will have no choice but to convene a broad coalition of students and civil society partners to demand accountability,” Garba warned. “The lives and safety of Nigerians are non-negotiable.”

Musa Abdullahi, Gombe Head of Corporate Services, while reacting, said the hospital defaulted for two months despite owing N346million arrears.

He said, “The issue is not peculiar to JEDC. Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe is a massive customer with a massive demand; it’s a hospital. They consumed 42million for October, 2025, for November, N32.5 million, but didn’t pay.”

On why the bill was reduced, he said, “Resident doctors were on strike, and it affected consumption. Nothing was paid in October, November two months consecutively. They have an outstanding balance of N346 million. We are not talking about outstanding, but the two months without payment. They are in band A as a business entity; we can’t be Father Christmas. We disconnected them based on directives.”

On implications of disconnecting a Federal Teaching Hospital, Abdullahi added, “We know that it’s a hospital, but we are a business entity.” (The PUNCH)

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