REMARKS BY DR. IZIAQ ADEKUNLE SALAKO, HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE, AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL STEERING COMMITTEE (IMSC) OF THE NATIONAL POWER-FOR-HEALTH INITIATIVE (NPHI), ON IST DECEMBER, 2025, AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE, ABUJA, NIGERIA.

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I am pleased to welcome you all to this crucial meeting of high-level stakeholders from different sectors as we continue to take bold progressive steps towards the attainment of energy sufficiency and sustainable electrification of our healthcare facilities.

2. As we all know, energy is a core determinant of population health outcomes and a critical enabler for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage. Energy insufficiency in hospitals has become an emergency as well as a major disrupter of health services in our country. Therefore, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, all hands must be on deck to ensure that no Nigerian is left in the dark as they seek health care in our hospitals.
3. The task before us may be challenging and enormous, but then, the journey of a thousand miles, they say, starts with one good step in the right direction. On 28th March 2025, we took the first step of inaugurating a multi-stakeholder Implementation Committee with dedicated members who worked tirelessly to ensure the successful conduct of the first National Stakeholders Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector held on the 9th and 10th of September, 2005.
4. As a signal of commitment at the highest level of governance, the National Dialogue was declared open by Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief who was ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The communique and recommendations from the National Dialogue was forwarded to Mr. President who graciously approved a key recommendation to institutionalise a health sector-specific energy coordination framework through the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative. The inauguration of this Committee today is the first step in building the foundational structure for the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative, in line with the Presidential directive.
5. The Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI) is an Inter-Ministerial, Public-Private Iniative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power. The NPHI is a government-led, private sector-driven collaborative Initiative designed to coordinate all health sector electrification projects and interventions. The objectives of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI) are to:
   Coordinate the strengthening of Policy, Regulatory Compliance, and Governance for Power in Health
   Promote the expansion and Standardization of Sustainable Power Solutions for Health Facilities
   Coordinate the national efforts for the development of Technical and Managerial Capacity in Health-Energy Systems 
   Champion the Strengthening of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to drive the NPHI
   Mobilize and Coordinate Financing for the NPHI
   Promote accountability and transparent reporting of the activities of the NPHI
   Lead intersectoral collaboration and synergy among all stakeholders
6. The administrative structure for the NPHI, as approved by Mr. President, as are as follows:
   An Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC), to be chaired by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, with the Honourable Minister of Power as Co-Chair, and the Director Public-Private Partnership of the FMOH&SW as Secretary.
   An Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC), to be chaired by a subject matter expert nominated by the IMSC Chair, with the NPHI Desk Officer / Project Manager at FMOH&SW as Secretary.
   A Project Delivery Unit (PDU), to be led by the Technical Assistant of the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, with support from Development Partners
   Facility Energy Management Committees (FEMC), to be led by respective heads of health facilities or their nominees, with involvement of the Director of Works.
7. The Terms of Reference of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee are as follows:
   Coordinate all national efforts and provide strategic oversight on sustainable electrification of all health facilities in Nigeria.
   Lead advocacy activities  towards collaborative investments of the federal and state governments, development partners, private sector actors, and other stakeholders on health sector electrification projects.
   Review and approve the annual action plans of the NPHI Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC);
   Engage government MDAs, private sector actors, development partners, and financing institutions to mobilise needed resources to achieve the objectives of the National Power for Health Initiative;
   Ensure the development and operationalisation of an accountability framework for monitoring and reporting progress. 
   Ensure the implementation of all other decisions taken at the National Dialogue in alignment with relevant policies and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and the federal and state levels.
8. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this is not just another Committee work, this is a call to duty to save women and children from dying during labour due to power cuts in the midst of life-saving medical interventions. This is beyond the regular call of duty, this is a response to the hopes and aspirations of every health worker who wants and deserve a conducive environment to work, with functional equipment powered by reliable and sustainable electricity all-day long and all-year round. This is a product of intellectual exertions and technical expertise of several individuals, scholars, development partners, private sector operators, as well as top management and staff of various Ministries Departments and Agencies.
9. This is a follow-up to the yearnings many patriotic Nigerians who attended and made important recommendations at the first National Dialogue of Power in the Health Sector. And finally, this is not just another routine national assignment, this is a call and directive from Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief for all stakeholders to harmonise their strategies and synergize their efforts and solve the longstanding issue of energy insufficiency in our health facilities once and for all.
10. As we proceed to inaugurate this Committee, I want use this opportunity to appreciate the priority attention the health sector has been receiving since the beginning of the administration of our visionary President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his steadfast commitment to ensure universal health coverage for all Nigerians.
11. I extend my gratitude to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson Jack, OON, mni, Honourable Commissioners of Health and Power, for their commitment to this Nigeria Power for Health Initiative.
12. I appreciate the unwavering dedication of the entire Federal Ministry of Health team under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate as we work together to implement the Presidential Priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative.
13. I am grateful to the Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and the staff of the ministry including its agencies for the implementation of several laudable power projects and for creating opportunities for intersectoral collaboration, as we unite to confront and resolve the numerous challenges of energy generation that have become a burden to many healthcare facilities across the country.
14. I recognize and commend all the government agencies and parastatals that are represented here today, for considering this critical assignment worthy of your involvement and cooperation.
15. Special thanks to development partners, especially the World Bank, and also private sector organizations, for your consistent support to the Government of Nigeria over several decades, and for willingness to ensure the success of this important task, as we strive together to strengthen Nigeria’s health system and achieve Universal Health Coverage.
16. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief, I hereby inaugurate the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee of the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative.
17. And so with peace and plenty, Nigeria shall be blessed.