Politics
Senate moves to approve Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Delta State
By George Mgbeleke
Senate, on Tuesday ,at plenary passed for a second reading a bill seeking an act to establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Delta State to provide for comprehensive medical services for workers in the oil and gas industry as well as communities affected by the oil and gas operations and explorations in the area.
This was a sequel to the consideration of the piece of legislation sponsored by Senator Joel Thomas (APC Delta South) during plenary.
Senator Thomas, while leading debate on the general principles of the bill, said it would ensure that workers in the oil and gas industry and their host communities have unhindered access to adequate and quality healthcare services.
This, according to him, would reduce health risks associated with oil and gas, adding that sitting the hospital in the Niger Delta would also help the communities access other emergency medical services.
The location of the hospital, he explained, would, to a large extent, tame the agitations and restlessness of the Niger Delta and provide a wide range of treatment for oil and gas-related illness.
Senator Thomas added that the hospital, when established, would improve exploration activities in the region for the socio-economic development of the country.
He said: “It will interest you to know that the Delta South Senatorial District has the highest offshore oil production in Delta and second in the country.
“More specifically, the location indicated for this project is in the heart of offshore oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“This project will benefit oil companies and communities in Delta, noting that this location is home to many oil exploration activities of Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Total among other oil companies”
The lawmaker disclosed that the proposed hospital would be funded by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, adding that the project would not pose an additional financial burden on the Federal Government.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP Bayelsa West) said that the siting of the medical facility was the right thing to do, stressing the need for such a project in the area
Also, Senator Ede Dafinone (APC Delta Central), said that the facility would provide support to people who sustain oil and gas-related injuries in particular, arguing that there is no alternative nearby remedy for such cases in the oil and gas industry.
In his remarks, the Deputy President of Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North), who presided at plenary referred the bill to the Committee on Health for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks.
He noted that the hospital, when established, would help improve the health related needs of the workers in the oil and gas industry in particular and people of the region in general.
By David Owei, Bayelsa
Governor Ademola Adeleke is not defecting to African Democratic Congress (ADC) nor aligning with anybody within the ADC ahead of the 2026 state elections, his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed has disclosed.
Responding to media publication and enquiries, the Spokesperson affirmed that Governor Adeleke remains in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is going to win, with wide margins, the 2026 governorship elections on the platform of the PDP.
The statement reads further: “Our attention has been drawn to news reports and media enquiries about the imminent defection of Governor Adeleke to the ADC or alignment with ADC big wigs ahead of the 2026 governorship race. There is no truth in those publications and speculations.
“First of all, we, the PDP Osun, have already adopted and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, so there is no alliance with ADC.
“Secondly, Governor Adeleke has no alliance with anyone in ADC. He remains in PDP, will run in PDP, and needs no alliance with ADC to win with a wide margin in 2026.
“The Osun electorate supports Governor Adeleke because of his impressive performance since he came to office. That good work is still ongoing and Osun people are committed to sustaining the delivery of good governance by re-electing Governor Adeleke in 2026”, the Spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Governor Adeleke urges PDP members to forge ahead with the ongoing strengthening of the party structures across all levels to prepare for fresh victory next year”, the statement from the Spokesperson concluded.
By David Owei,Bayelsa
The umbrella body of Ijaw Elders, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has rejected the Bill in the Senate seeking to permanently elevate the Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto as the exclusive Co-chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council.
The INC said the move would be at the expense of apex traditional rulers from other ethnic nationalities and geopolitical divides.
The Second Vice Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Alabo Nengi James (OON) said, in a statement on Sunday in Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area of Bayelsa State, the proposal is a continuos infringement on Traditional Rulers in Nigeria.
Alabo Nengi James describes the provision of the Bill as unacceptable and against the Rights of the indigenous People across tribes, Religion, Culture and Customs.
He said the Bill should be reviewed to include clauses such as No permanent Chairmanship for Sultan and Oni only must be allowed in the ongoing bill being discussed in the Senate.
He advocates that the National Assembly should allow the National Council of Traditional Rulers to Appoint their Leadership themselves, rotationaly and based on Federal Character.
“Include the Role of Traditional Rulers into the Constitutio and No Traditional Ruler from another tribe or religion is superior to another.”
“The National Assembly should Step down the Provocative and dehumanizing offensive Bill that will cause a serious rift and breach of peace in Nigeria.”
Chief James called the attention of the Senate President, Rt. Hon. Godswill Akpabio, urging him to immediately step down what he termed a “highly insensitive and dangerous bill.”
He emphasized that traditional rulers across the country must be given equal recognition and should be allowed to choose their national leadership through internal mechanisms that reflect rotational leadership and the federal character system.
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