-
Proposed Federal Oil and Gas Hospital Benikrukru bill scales second reading.
-
Facility to deliver specialised care for workers and host communities.
-
NCDMB funding structure designed to ease federal financial burden.
A bill seeking to establish a Federal Oil and Gas Hospital Benikrukru, Delta State, has passed second reading in the Senate as lawmakers moved closer to addressing health gaps in oil-producing regions.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), presided over Tuesday’s plenary and referred the proposed legislation to the Senate Committee on Health, which is expected to submit its report within four weeks.
READ ALSO: Again, Ijaws Dismiss Itsekiri Land Ownership Claims in Warri Federal Constituency
Sponsored by Senator Onwakpo Thomas Joel (APC, Delta South), the bill seeks to provide advanced healthcare services for oil and gas workers, along with residents of communities facing environmental and occupational health challenges due to oil exploration.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Senator Joel argued that the proposed hospital would offer emergency care, occupational health interventions, and treatment for industry-related illnesses to reduce downtime and enhance productivity.
He said the siting of the facility in Benikrukru was strategic, noting that Delta South hosts the country’s highest offshore crude oil operations and is home to multinationals such as Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, and Agip.
READ ALSO: Senate Endorses CBN’s Mid-year Performance
The lawmaker stressed that the hospital’s funding would not strain federal finances, as it would rely on revenue from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which receives one percent of oil and gas contracts awarded nationwide.
“The facility will bring lasting health solutions to oil-bearing communities and calm longstanding agitations in the Niger Delta,” Joel added.
If passed, the bill could transform access to healthcare in one of Nigeria’s most volatile and resource-rich regions.
