First Lady Flags Off Free Health Insurance, Cottage Hospital In Bayelsa

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the federal government‘s commitment to improving healthcare access for vulnerable Nigerians, particularly in rural communities.

Speaking during the launch of a health insurance scheme and the commissioning of a Cottage Hospital and Community School in Otuasega, Bayelsa State, she emphasised that the initiative, executed in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Renewed Hope Initiative, aims to reduce mortality rates and ensure timely medical care for underserved populations.

Senator Tinubu, 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, noted that the project is a significant step toward addressing long-standing healthcare challenges in the Niger Delta and beyond.
She stressed that the government remains focused on bridging the gap in quality medical services with interventions designed to provide sustainable and affordable healthcare solutions for poor and vulnerable citizens.

She said, “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.

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“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.

“You may recall that the NDDC‘s earlier interventions in Education provided over forty-five thousand 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.

„In addition, the donation of 11 fully equipped ambulances along with the supply of personal protective equipment to enhance healthcare delivery and emergency response, 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. Also, the introduction of health insurance scheme that is specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta will provide thousands of families with access to affordable and reliable medical care. The distribution of 32,000 school desks and benches to public schools will ensure that children learn in more comfortable and conducive environment,” she said.

Earlier, the managing director of NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, said the essence of the partnership between Renewed Hope Initiative and NDDC is to make sure that the commission delivers the dividends of development in the areas of health, education and other social services that affect women and children and the youth in Niger Delta.

He said for the past one month, NDDC has been busy commissioning road projects in the region initiated by the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, appreciated the federal government for several developmental projects executed in the state, especially the linking of roads to some coastal communities.