A member of the House of Representatives for Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency of Delta State, Hon Nnamdi Ezechi, has called on the federal government to make its presence to be felt by his constituents.
Ezechi made the demand in his office in Abuja after presenting a bill that passed second reading on the floor of the Green Chamber.
The bill seeks the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Kwale, which is one of the melting pots that hosts many companies which are into exploring/flaring of oil and gas without remitting anything to the community.
According to him, his constituency has been neglected over time by both the federal government and the oil and gas-producing companies.
Another bill that passed first reading is the establishment of the University of Health Sciences in his constituency. He said that he initiated the FMC bill and the University of Health Sciences bill to address the health challenges of his constituency.
The lawmaker said he has several other bills that focus on addressing the infrastructural needs of his people such as roads, tertiary institutions, health institutions, pipe borne water, women and youth empowerment amongst others, that will be enjoyed by his people.
Ezechi lamented that his constituency has suffered perpetual marginalization even though it is the highest producer of gas in the country, playing host to numerous oil and gas installations in Nigeria.
He said, “Kwale is a densely populated Metropolitan city that is in dire need of modern health facilities given its population explosion due to its oil and gas activities. The establishment of a Federal Medical Centre with full state-of-the-art facilities will help alleviate the health challenges posed by the toxicity of constant flaring of gas into the airspace, which in his purview, has been a recurrent decimal in his constituency.
“The FMC when fully established, will solve the proximity problem of his electorates as the only nearest FMC is situated in Asaba or Benin which makes it nearly impossible for his constituents seeking medical attention at this level in emergencies to make it.”
He called on his constituents to continue to be law abiding to the constituted authority as they have done in the past and assured them of better developments that are going to come through his effective representation at the parliament.