Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to improving healthcare accessibility, especially for rural communities in the Niger Delta region, which has long been neglected.
Speaking on Thursday in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, during the launch of health insurance services aimed at supporting vulnerable populations, she highlighted the federal government’s focus on reducing health mortality rates and ensuring timely medical attention nationwide.
Senator Tinubu also inaugurated a cottage hospital and community school, built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
She emphasized that these initiatives were part of a broader effort to address healthcare challenges in rural communities.
The health insurance scheme, she noted, is designed to provide thousands of families in these areas with access to affordable, reliable medical care.
In addition, the NDDC’s 2025 free medical outreach and the donation of medical equipment to health facilities across the region were part of a strategy to improve healthcare delivery and support the most vulnerable populations.
She said that through those initiatives, the Tinubu administration aimed to foster healthier communities, significantly reduce health-related mortality, and promote overall well-being in neglected regions.
The First Lady stated: “I am honoured to be in Bayelsa State after my first visit, and it is a great delight for me to officially flag off the NDDC medical outreach programme, health insurance scheme and the distribution of school desks, benches and textbooks in collaboration with the Renewed Hope initiative. The beneficiaries of this programme are the nine states of the Niger Delta region, namely; Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Abia and Ondo states, with Bayelsa State graciously hosting us today.
“The NDDC/RHI collaboration began in 2024 to provide further supports 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.
“You may recall that the NDDC earlier interventions in education provided over forty-five thousand (45,000) preloaded educational tablets and textbooks to upper primary schools, junior and senior secondary school students in both urban and rural communities in all the NDDC states. Also, the NDDC/RHI internship scheme has begun disbursing N50,000 monthly stipends to 500 pre-identified beneficiaries for a period of one year in all the nine states, through the office of the state first ladies; this is more like a conditional cash transfer.
“Today, the medical outreach programme which I was told is conducted quarterly is aimed to deliver a special health services directly to the communities. It will address common health issues, provide preventive care and raise awareness about health concerns that is proportionately affecting rural residents, particularly in the area of maternal and child health.
“In addition, the donation of 11 fully equipped ambulances along with the supply of personal protective equipment to enhance healthcare delivery and emergency response and health facilities in each NDDC states will be given one ambulance, while Bayelsa and Delta will be given two ambulances each.
“This contribution will significantly aid in saving lives and ensure that the various communities receive prompt medical attention when needed.”
She further said that the introduction of health insurance scheme that is specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta would provide thousands of families with access to affordable and reliable medical care.
She stressed that the development was why the distribution of thirty two thousand (32,000) school desks and benches to public school would ensure that children learn in more comfortable and conducive environment.
“All these initiatives are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, particularly the priority areas of education, health and social investment which aim to build a healthiest, more educated and empowered populace,” she stated.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, said the essence of the partnership between Renewed Hope Initiative and NDDC, was to make sure the commission deliver the dividends of development in the areas of health, education and other social services that affect women, children and the youth in the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku said for the past one month, the NDDC had been busy inaugurating road projects in the region initiated by the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
On his part, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, appreciated the Federal Government for several developmental projects executed in the state.
He mentioned especially the linking of roads to some coastal communities in Bayelsa.
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