The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill to establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Delta State, aimed at providing specialised healthcare for oil and gas workers and host communities affected by industry activities.
The bill was presented on Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Health, chaired by Senator Banigo Ipalibo Harry (PDP, Rivers). It was sponsored by Senator Joel Thomas (APC, Delta).
According to Senator Harry, the proposed hospital will offer full medical services including emergency care and occupational health for workers in the oil and gas sector and residents of surrounding communities.
She explained that oil exploration in the Niger Delta has exposed both workers and locals to serious health risks, including terminal illnesses, cancer, and injuries. These challenges, she said, require urgent attention through expert medical care.
“This hospital will reduce delays in treatment, provide quick response to emergencies, and bring relief to communities that have long been neglected,” she told the Senate.
Harry also noted that neglect of the region’s health needs has contributed to unrest and agitation in the Niger Delta, slowing national development.
Delta State, she pointed out, was chosen as the location due to its central role in Nigeria’s oil production.
The bill received wide support during a public hearing, with stakeholders stressing the need for such a facility.
After a clause-by-clause review, the Senate unanimously passed the bill. The hospital is expected to improve public health in the oil-rich region and support peace and development.
