The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) says it disconnected University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan from the national grid over an outstanding N400 million debt.

On Monday, patients at the UCH staged a protest following incessant power cuts at the facility. Nurses and doctors have been using lights from their smartphones to find their way around.

The demonstrators said there has been no water and electricity at the hospital in the last 17 days. The protesters expressed concern that the lack of essential services has contributed to patient deaths.

One member of staff blamed IBEDC for placing the hospital on the Band A tariff — the most expensive electricity band in the country.

In February, IBEDC cut off UCH’s power over “technical faults and indebtedness”.

At the time, the company said the hospital owed about N500m in electricity bills.

According to Punch, Busolami Tunwase, the electricity company’s spokesperson, confirmed that the disconnection was due to an outstanding debt of N400m, adding that the university has not fulfilled its promise to pay up.

She said while the company sympathises with the hospital, IBEDC was compelled to take drastic action because it is being pressured to meet financial obligations to stakeholders.

“However, IBEDC reiterated its commitment to working with UCH and remains open to discussions on a flexible payment arrangement that could be mutually agreed upon by both parties,” she said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Funmi Adetuyibi, UCH spokesperson, said the hospital’s management has held several meetings with IBEDC on payment modalities.

The spokesperson said the electricity bills from IBEDC, inclusive of accumulated bills since 2019 to date, amounted to N3,104,568,114.61.

She added that the hospital has so far paid N2,916,567, 724.27.

“In a bid to mitigate the effects of this hardship, the management has taken some steps, which include dissemination of information to patients and alternative power sources,” the statement reads.

“We have back-up generators to power critical areas, including the Emergency department, operating theatres, Intensive Care Unit, Laboratories, among others.

“Solar/inverter panel has been made available in the Emergency Department, Main Theatre, Intensive Care Unit, Paediatrics, East 3 Ward, South East 3, Owena Dialysis Ward, High Dependency Unit, South West 2 and all the clinics.”

Air Peace Lagos-bound flight was disrupted by a bird strike shortly before takeoff in Abuja on Thursday.

A bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight or on a takeoff or landing roll.

According to a statement by Ejike Ndiulo, its head of corporate communications, Air Peace said the flight from Abuja to Lagos took off around 6:30am.

“We wish to inform our esteemed passengers that our Abuja-Lagos 06:30 flight experienced a bird strike before take-off, prompting a ramp return as a safety measure. All passengers disembarked normally,” the airline said.

“We have deployed a replacement aircraft for the affected flight in order to minimize disruptions, thus ensuring that passengers continue their journeys promptly.

“We appeal for the understanding of our valued passengers impacted by this development, as well as those on other flights that may experience delays.

“At Air Peace, we are committed to providing safe, comfortable, and reliable air travel for all our passengers.”

A passenger, Inibehe Effiong, a Lagos-based human rights lawyer, took to his Facebook page to share his experience on the flight.

Effiong said the development threw some passengers into panic with the attendant screaming.

“While taxing on the runway and just before takeoff, our Air Peace flight from Abuja to Lagos scheduled for 6:30 AM today was stopped forcefully, resulting in panic and screams by some passengers,” he posted.

“The captain attributed the incident to a bird strike. We have been deboarded to await either a replacement or repair of the aircraft.

“Thankfully, whatever happened did not occur after takeoff. It would have been scarier.”

A few minutes later, Effiong posted that the faulty aircraft had been replaced and the passengers were already boarding preparatory to the Lagos trip.

On November 4, one of Air Peace’s flights heading to Abuja from Benin could not continue the trip due to a technical snag the aircraft encountered shortly after takeoff.

Access Holdings has announced that Access Bank United Kingdom (UK) has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Afrasia Bank Limited, the fourth-largest bank in Mauritius by assets.

In a statement on Thursday, Olakunle Aderinokun, head of media relations at Access Holdings, said Mauritius holds a strategic advantage, with the financial sector contributing 13.4 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

He said the acquisition will provide Access UK with a robust platform to grow its personal and corporate banking operations.

“Furthermore, Access Bank will utilize Mauritius as a strategic hub for trade finance and regional connectivity, thereby enhancing its capacity to facilitate cross-border transactions across Africa and beyond,” Aderinokun said.

“The transaction represents a transformational step forward for Access UK and the overall Access Holdings’ banking franchise.

“At the end of its fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, Afrasia Bank recorded Total Assets of more than US$5.7 billion and Net Profit After Tax of US$152.4 million.”

Roosevelt Ogbonna, chief executive officer (CEO) of Access Bank, said Mauritius offers immense potential as an international financial hub.

“This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in our African growth strategy, reinforcing our position as a leading Pan-African financial institution,” he said.

“Mauritius offers immense potential as an international financial hub, and through Afrasia Bank, we are excited to unlock new opportunities to drive trade, support businesses, and foster economic inclusion across the region as we continue our mission to be the World’s Most Respected African Bank.”

On his part, Jamie Simmonds, managing director of Access Bank UK, said Afrasia Bank offers the financial institution a sustainable platform for long-term profitability due to its strong balance sheet and reputable brand in Mauritius.

Simmonds said the deal aligns with the bank’s strategy to diversify and future-proof its earnings while enabling clients to access global markets easily.

On October 29, during a media parley, Ogbonna said the bank will continue to invest in other African economies as part of its growth strategy.