Impact of electricity supply deficits on health and infrastructure security in Nigeria

Abstract

With incessant collapse of national power grids, there is no denying that the uncertain state of electricity supply phenomenon endangered critical national assets security and delivery capabilities, impact economic security, and disrupt health security particularly in emergency response capabilities. It is against this background that this study engaged the dependency theory to interrogate electricity supply deficit on health and infrastructure security in Nigeria. This study employed a survey research design and Krejcie and Morgan (1970) scientific sampling technique on a purposive study population of major organizations driving power generation, distribution and transmission of electricity supply in Abuja and Lagos to elicit data. The findings reveal a significant negative relationship between electricity supply and critical infrastructure security in Nigeria. Paucity of electricity supply contributes to increase production costs, reduced scale efficiency, and poor industrial performance, particularly in small and medium-scale enterprises. The study further establishes that electricity deficits severely undermine health security by reducing the operational capacity of primary healthcare centers. This is evident in inadequate service delivery, poor functionality of medical equipment, limited health information access, ineffective vaccine storage, and insufficient energy for lighting, refrigeration, and diagnostic services. The study recommends that all layers of government should engage robust public-private partnership framework for the development of micro and mini power grids to reduce reliance on the overburdened and fragile national grid. Additionally, policymakers across all levels of government are urged to design specific energy policies prioritizing healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas. The mandatory deployment of renewable energy solutions in healthcare centers is emphasized as a sustainable approach to mitigate the adverse effects of electricity supply deficits on health security