Blackout Cripples Services at Abuja's Maitama District Hospital

Patients seeking medical care at Maitama District Hospital in Abuja faced significant disruptions on Saturday morning, October 10, 2026, as a prolonged power outage brought operations to a standstill. A correspondent visiting the public health facility around 9:30 am observed individuals seated in dimly lit waiting areas, unable to receive timely attention.

After a wait of approximately twenty minutes, the correspondent approached a nurse for clarification. The nurse disclosed that the hospital had been without electricity for over an hour, indicating the blackout commenced even before the correspondent's arrival. A security official on duty at the facility also informed the correspondent that the cause of the power failure remained unknown to staff. He stated, “There hasn’t been light for close to one hour. I can’t really speak as to when the light will be restored.”

The power cut severely impacted the hospital's computerised systems, making it challenging for patients to access necessary medical services. This was particularly problematic as patient medical histories and records are electronically stored, rendering them inaccessible when the systems were offline. One patient, speaking to the correspondent, expressed frustration, noting he had been present for some time without receiving any attention due to the outage. He explained, “We don’t really know what is happening. We were simply told there was no light and they couldn’t attend to us because our information was on the system.”

Maitama District Hospital, situated on Aguiyi Ironsi Street in Maitama, Abuja, is a crucial public healthcare provider for residents of the Federal Capital Territory. As of the time of reporting, there was no official statement from the hospital management addressing the cause of the blackout or when services would resume fully.