First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to delivering accessible and affordable infrastructure to rural communities in the Niger Delta region.
Mrs Tinubu said this during the inauguration of access to health insurance services for poor and vulnerable people and the commissioning of the Cottage Hospital and Community School.
The event was organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, yesterday.
She added that the federal government is focused on significantly saving lives and ensuring that communities receive prompt medical attention when needed, to reduce the health mortality rate in the country.
The first lady also inaugurated the commencement of the NDDC 2025 free medical outreach and the donation of medical equipment to some health facilities.
Tinubu explained that the introduction of a health insurance scheme, specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta, would provide thousands of families with access to affordable and reliable medical care.
“I am honoured to be in Bayelsa State after my first visit, and it is a great delight for me to officially inaugurate the NDDC medical outreach programme.
“The health insurance scheme and the distribution of desks, benches and textbooks in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative, will benefit the nine states of the Niger Delta namely Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Abia and Ondo.
“Bayelsa is graciously hosting us today.”
She explained that NDDC/RHI collaboration began in 2024 to provide support in critical areas of development by empowering communities.
According to her, this will improve the quality of life in the Niger Delta region, in line with our Renewed Hope Initiative model for a better life for families.
“You may recall that NDDC’s earlier interventions in education provided more than 45,000 preloaded educational tablets and textbooks to primary schools, junior and senior secondary school students.
“These resources were distributed in urban and rural communities across the NDDC states.
“Additionally, the NDDC-RHI internship scheme has started disbursing N50,000 monthly stipend to 500 pre-identified beneficiaries for one year in all the nine states, through the office of the state first ladies.
“This is akin to a conditional cash transfer.
“Today, the medical outreach programme, which I am told is conducted quarterly, aims to deliver special health services directly to the communities.”
The first lady said it would address common health issues, provide preventive care and raise awareness about health concerns that disproportionately affect rural residents, particularly in maternal and child health.
She said in addition, 11 fully equipped ambulances would be donated, alongside the supply of personal protective equipment to enhance healthcare delivery.
“Each NDDC state will receive one ambulance, while Bayelsa and Delta will receive two ambulances each.
“This contribution will significantly aid in saving lives and ensure that communities receive prompt medical attention when needed.
“The introduction of the health insurance scheme, specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta, will provide thousands of families with access to affordable and reliable medical care,” she said.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, said the essence of the partnership between the Renewed Hope Initiative and NDDC is to ensure that the commission delivers the dividends of development in the areas of health, education and other social services.
He emphasised that these efforts will benefit women, children, and youths.
He further stated that for the past month, NDDC has been commissioning road projects in the region, initiated by the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Tinubu.
On his part, Governor Douye Diri expressed appreciation to the federal government for the several developmental projects executed in Bayelsa, especially the linking of roads to some coastal communities.(NAN)
