The Nigeria Senate has passed the second reading of a Bill sponsored by Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, seeking the establishment of the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State.
The proposed law, titled A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital, Benikrukru, Warri Southwest, Delta State, marks a significant move toward boosting healthcare delivery in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.
Senator Joel-Onowakpo, who represents Delta South Senatorial District, emphasized that the hospital would serve both the workers of International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the residents of host communities, providing effective, standard, and specialized medical care tailored to the needs of the oil and gas sector.
“This Bill is borne out of the urgent need to bridge the gap in access to quality healthcare in the Niger Delta region, especially in areas that bear the brunt of oil exploration and exploitation,” Senator Joel-Onowakpo said during the plenary. “It is not just about infrastructure; it is about justice, development, and the well-being of our people.”
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He further noted that the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital would serve as a referral center for occupational health issues peculiar to the oil industry, including chemical exposure, respiratory complications, and trauma care from operational hazards.
The Bill has been widely hailed as a welcome development for Delta South and Delta State at large. Local leaders and stakeholders in the region see it as a long-overdue intervention that recognizes the sacrifices made by host communities and the critical health risks associated with the oil and gas industry.
The Senate has committed the Bill to its committee for further legislative action and public hearing, a key step toward its final passage.
If signed into law, the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital, Benikrukru, would become the first federal medical facility in Nigeria dedicated specifically to the needs of oil and gas workers and their communities, setting a precedent for resource-based healthcare equity across the country.
