The Nigerian Senate has passed for second reading a bill for an act to establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital Benikrukru, Delta.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, SenatorJoel Onowakpo Thomas at plenary on Tuesday.
He said the bill,read for the first time on June 24 ,sought to provide for comprehensive, specialised medical services for workers in oil and gas industry and host communities affected by explorations .
Senator Thomas said the bill would ensure that workers in the oil and gas industry and their host communities have unhindered access to adequate and quality healthcare services.
He said apart from reducing health risks associated with oil and gas, siting the hospital in the Niger Delta location would also help the communities access other emergency medical services
Senator Thomas said the location of the hospital 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.
According to him, the siting of the hospital would improve exploration activities in the region for the socio-economic development of the country.
“It will interest you to know that the Delta South Senatorial District has the highest offshore oil production in Delta state and second in the country.
“More specifically, the location indicated for this project is in the very heart of offshore oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“This project will benefit oil companies and communities in Delta state,note also that this location is home to many oil exploration activities of Chevron,Shell, ExxonMobil, Total among other oil companies”.
He said the funding of the proposal for the hospital has been structured not to pose additional financial burden on the treasury of the Federal Government,adding that the proposal could be funded by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board. (NCDMB).
Senator Seriake Dickson(PDP- Bayelsa)said the siting of the medical educational infrastructure was the right thing to do, stating that there was need for the medical educational infrastructure in the area.
Senator Ede Dafinone (APC -Delta), said the facility would provide support for oil and gas injuries in particular, as there was no
alternative nearby remedy for injuries in the oil and gas industry.
He said it was good that the establishment of the facility would not result to additional pressure on the funding of the federal government.
Deputy President of Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau who presided plenary refered the bill to Committee on Health for further legislative input and to return back to plenary in Four weeks.
Senator Barau said the bill, when passed would help improve the wellbeing and health related needs of the people.
Confidence Okwuchi