The completion and commissioning of two healthcare facilities by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in a part of the oil region in partnership with Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady, is being celebrated in the region on account of their impact.
Otuasega, a rural community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was animated last month when Nigeria’s First Lady paid a rare visit to launch a Free Medical Outreach and inaugurate the renovated and upgraded Cottage Hospital and Community Secondary School for the community.
The projects are expected to enhance healthcare delivery and education in Bayelsa State and other parts of the Niger Delta region.
The First Lady, assisted by Abubakar Momoh, an engineer and Minister of Regional Development, along with Duoye Diri, Bayelsa State Governor, and the NDDC team led by Chiedu Ebie, restated the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to provide accessible and affordable health care to rural communities in the Niger Delta region and other parts of the country.
The First Lady, who also flagged off the commencement of the NDDC 2025 free medical outreach and donation of medical equipment to some health facilities in the region, explained that the introduction of health insurance scheme that is specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta will provide many families with access to affordable and reliable medical care.
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At the commissioning, the First Lady said she as an educationist recognises education as a vital pillar of development. That is why distributing 32,000 school desks and benches to public schools would ensure children learn in a more comfortable and conducive environment. All these initiatives are said to align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda particularly in the priority areas of education, health, and social investment, which aim to build a healthier, more educated, and empowered populace.
The Senator encouraged the people of the Niger Delta to take full advantage of the various interventions offered by the NDDC and continue to support the efforts behind the projects.
The First Lady made a significant statement saying the number of projects inaugurated was a testament to the fact that the Government has put the right team in place to lead the NDDC.
The First Lady also unveiled off 11 ambulances and personal protective gear for selected hospitals in the region. She also inaugurated a Cottage hospital, launched a health insurance scheme for rural dwellers in the zone, and unveiled Community Secondary School in Otuasega, and distributed textbooks, school benches, and desks.
“The NDDC/RHI collaboration began in 2024 to provide further support in critical areas of development by empowering communities and improving the quality of lives in the Niger Delta region in line with our Renewed Hope Initiative model towards a better life for families,” she stated.
Earlier, at a meeting with the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, the First Lady emphasised the importance of leaders prioritising the people’s needs and solicited the support of traditional rulers for RHI advocacy in health.
This is said to mark the third intervention in a series offered by the collaboration between RHI and NDDC since November 2024, including the distribution of U-Lesson educational tablets and the launch of the NDDC/RHI Youth Internship scheme.
The President’s wife expressed delight to be in Bayelsa State once again and to flag off the NDDC medical outreach programme officially, health insurance scheme and the distribution of school desks, benches and textbooks in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative. She made it clear that the beneficiaries of the programme are the nine states of the Niger Delta with Bayelsa State graciously hosting us today.
She recalled the provision of 45,000 pre-loaded educational tablets and textbooks to primary schools and junior and senior secondary school students in urban and rural communities across all NDDC States.
“Today, the medical outreach programme which I was told is conducted quarterly is aimed to deliver a special health services directly to the communities.
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“Additionally, 11 fully equipped ambulances and personal protective equipment will be donated to enhance healthcare delivery and emergency response in each NDDC state. Specifically, Bayelsa and Delta will receive two ambulances each, while the remaining states will receive one each.”
The First Lady pointed out that the focus of the scheme is to save lives and the distribution of 32,000 school desks and benches to public school will ensure that children learn in more comfortable and conducive environment.
“All these initiatives align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, particularly in the priority areas of education, health, and social investment, which aim to build a healthier, more educated, and empowered populace.”
In his remarks, the Governor of Bayelsa State commended NDDC’s complimentary roles and commitment to improving the region.
He thanked the First Lady for her compassion and dedication to improving the lives of Nigerians.
Gov Diri appreciated the FG for several developmental projects executed in the state, especially the linking of roads to some coastal Communities.
He called for more collaboration between interventionist agencies and the governors in the region to avoid unnecessary duplication of projects in the communities.
Diri lauded President Bola Tinubu for the recent award of the second phase of the Nembe-Brass Road project.
Also speaking, the Minister of Regional Development applauded the collaboration between the NDDC and RHI. He equally commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking particular interest in the development of the Niger Delta region
He joined in endorsing what the NDDC is doing these days: “The NDDC is setting standards for good performance in the region.” I advise the regional development agencies to emulate the Commission in delivering projects to the people.”
In his address, Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director, said the essence of the partnership between Renewed Hope Initiative and NDDC is to make sure the commission delivered the dividends of development in the areas of health, education and other social services that affects women and children and the youth in the Niger Delta
Ogbuku, observed that the partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady was a reflection of the strong desire of the President Tinubu’s administration to transform the Niger Delta Region into a zone of peace and development.
He said, “As we begin the celebration of 25 years of NDDC, we need more of these strategic and coordinated development programmes to continue our life-saving interventions.”
In past one month, the NDDC inaugurated four regional projects: the 9.6-kilometre Abraka-Oben Road in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State; the 7.3-km Oyigbo Road network in Rivers State; the Eziama-Abba-Owere Nkworji Road in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State and the 23.7-km Ndoro-Ntalakwu Road Network in Abia State.
In his goodwill message, Asuquo Ekpeyong, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to the progress of the Niger Delta through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Walter Mulombo, the World Health Organisation’s country Representative, expressed excitement and stated that the WHO would continue to support good health programmes.
