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.
