President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Federal Medical Centre, Oleh (Establishment) Bill into law, marking a historic breakthrough for healthcare delivery in the Delta South Senatorial District.
The presidential assent officially converts the legislative proposal into an Act of the National Assembly, paving the way for the immediate take-off of the first federally funded tertiary health institution in the oil-rich Isoko nation and its environs.
The bill, which was heavily championed and sponsored by Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing the Delta South Senatorial District, successfully scaled its final hurdles in the National Assembly before being transmitted for executive assent.
Reacting to the development from the State House, Abuja, lawmakers and regional stakeholders widely praised the President’s commitment to equity in federal healthcare infrastructure under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking on the historic milestone, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas described the new Act as a “monumental victory” for a region that has long grappled with inadequate access to specialized, quality medical services.
”Oleh, as a strategic hub in Delta South, is perfectly positioned to serve our long-underserved communities. This Federal Medical Centre will drastically reduce the burden of long-distance travel for specialist care, which has historically led to delayed treatments and preventable deaths.” stated Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas.
The lawmaker also extended profound appreciation to Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio and the leadership of the National Assembly for prioritizing the legislation.
Beyond providing critical, specialized medical services, the establishment of the tertiary hospital is expected to serve as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation in Delta State through Job Creation and Medical Research & Training.
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare are expected to deploy a technical team to Oleh in the coming weeks to inspect the site and coordinate the smooth transition and take-off of the medical centre.
