The Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has pledged to investigate after a dental operation was halted midway due to a power outage, leaving the patient in severe pain.
The procedure on Opeyemi Taofeekah was underway when electricity failed. The dentist, Dr. Adedoyin, had already incised her gum and begun extracting the tooth but stopped, citing the blackout and a non-functional generator. Taofeekah was told to return on Wednesday.
“He had cut my gum and was about to remove the tooth when the light went off. The pain is unbearable,” she said. Despite seeking help at a private clinic, she was turned away due to the incomplete surgery. Painkillers provided little relief, and swelling continued.
Her caregiver, Adegoke Idris, described the incident as shocking. “The doctor recommended extraction because she’s over 25 and had recurring issues. But during the operation, power failed, the generator didn’t work, and now she’s suffering,” he said.
Hospital spokesperson Segun Orisajo acknowledged the issue, stating it involved multiple departments, including power supply. “We will investigate the outage and any backup failures. This is not a case of neglect—staff were available. We need to examine the full circumstances,” he said, promising a response the following day.
