The Nigerian Senate has passed the bill for the establishment of the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District, which is a landmark move for healthcare and development in the Niger Delta, successfully scaled third reading on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Senator Joel-Onowakpo expressed deep gratitude to his colleagues and Senate leadership for their overwhelming support, describing the bill’s passage as a critical step toward improving health services in oil-producing communities.
According to the Senator, the proposed hospital will provide specialised and comprehensive medical care tailored to workers in the oil and gas sector as well as residents of host communities who have long endured the devastating effects of oil spills, environmental degradation, and hazardous exposure linked to crude oil exploration.
“This hospital will revolutionise emergency healthcare response, reduce health risks, and minimise downtime losses in Nigeria’s oil and gas operations,” Senator Joel-Onowakpo said.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the lawmaker emphasized the hospital’s broader impact, noting that the project will ignite economic growth in the region. It is expected to create employment opportunities, drive infrastructural expansion, and reinforce federal presence in a region that has historically powered the nation’s economy yet lacked commensurate development.
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The Senator also thanked key figures in the Red Chamber, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), Senator Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, for their belief in the necessity of the institution.
With Senate approval secured, the bill now awaits concurrence by the House of Representatives before being presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for final assent. Senator Joel-Onowakpo expressed optimism that the President would recognise the pressing need for the specialised hospital and give the bill his approval.
As the legislative process nears its final stage, the people of Delta South and the wider oil-producing communities are one step closer to realising a long-awaited dream that promises to transform health outcomes and economic prospects in the Niger Delta.
