- Senate Approves Bill for Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Delta State.
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Facility targets health needs of oil workers and host communities.
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Bill seeks justice, improved healthcare, and regional peace.
The Senate has passed a bill for the establishment of a Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Warri South-West, Delta State.
The proposal, sponsored by Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (APC, Delta South), aims to provide specialised healthcare for oil workers and host communities exposed to the health risks of oil exploration.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that presenting the report on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Banigo Ipalibo Harry (PDP, Rivers), explained that the hospital would focus on treating illnesses linked to oil production such as cancer, industrial injuries, and other terminal conditions. She noted that the public hearing on the bill received widespread support from stakeholders.
Harry stressed that oil-producing communities have long faced health challenges without adequate access to occupational medical services. She warned that such neglect has fuelled agitation in the Niger Delta, affecting national peace and economic development.
She added that Delta State, a major oil-producing region, hosts several multinational oil companies, making Benikrukru a strategic location for such a facility. The proposed hospital would offer 24-hour emergency services, specialised care, and improved medical response for remote areas.
Describing the bill as a step toward fairness and national cohesion, Harry urged senators to support it, stating that “this is not just about healthcare, it’s about equity, justice, and national stability.”
The bill was adopted after a clause-by-clause review and will now be sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence. If passed, it will proceed to the President for final assent.
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