Tinubu’s Assent: Maritime Varsity, FMC Laws Will Unlock Delta South’s Potential — Joel-Onowakpo ~ Truth Reporters

Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assenting to legislation establishing the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, and the Federal Medical Centre, Oleh, describing the development as a landmark intervention that will significantly transform the socio-economic landscape of Delta South.

Senator Joel-Onowakpo, who disclosed this after accompanying the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, on a visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the President’s assent to the two landmark laws represented a major victory for the people of Delta South.

The senator said he used the occasion of the visit to personally express his appreciation to President Tinubu for giving legal backing to the two institutions, which he described as projects of enduring importance to the people of the senatorial district and the wider Niger Delta region.

According to him, the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, as a full-fledged federal institution would strengthen Nigeria’s maritime education and human-capital development while positioning Delta South as a strategic hub for maritime training, research, innovation and industry development.

He also said the Federal Medical Centre, Oleh, would significantly expand access to quality tertiary healthcare in Delta South, reduce the burden of seeking specialised medical services outside the senatorial district and create new opportunities for medical training, employment and healthcare investment.

Joel-Onowakpo said the two federal institutions were more than infrastructure projects, stressing that they represented strategic investments in the future of the people and communities of Delta South.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Akpabio for their support and commitment to legislative initiatives capable of delivering tangible benefits to constituents.

The senator said: “I joined my boss, the uncommon President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, to visit the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his office.

“I used the opportunity to thank Mr. President for signing into law the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, and the Federal Medical Centre, Oleh, in Delta South Senatorial District.

“I am deeply grateful to Mr. President and the uncommon President of the Senate for all the support they have given me in the discharge of my responsibilities as Senator representing Delta South in the 10th Assembly.”

The lawmaker, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, said the development demonstrated the impact that purposeful representation, constructive engagement and strong executive-legislative collaboration could have on national development.

He assured constituents that he would continue to pursue legislation and federal interventions capable of attracting investments, creating jobs, improving healthcare, expanding educational opportunities and accelerating development across Delta South.

Joel-Onowakpo’s appreciation comes as the two landmark federal institutions are expected to deepen the strategic importance of Delta South in Nigeria’s maritime, education and healthcare sectors, while further strengthening the presence of the Federal Government in the senatorial district.

He said he remained committed to using his position in the 10th National Assembly to attract more federal projects and opportunities to Delta South, stressing that effective representation must ultimately translate into measurable improvements in the lives of the people.

The senator concluded by commending President Tinubu and Senator Akpabio for their support, saying: “God bless Mr. President and God bless the uncommon President of the Senate for all the support they have given to me and the people of Delta South.”