Excited by the planned establishment of five mini plants of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in Ajaokuta in January, 2025 by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan (PDP Kogi Central), openly celebrated it with federal lawmakers in Abuja on Friday last week.
Senator Natasha made the celebration during 2025 budget defence session Ministers of State for the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources had with the National Assembly joint committees on Petroleum (Upstream), Petroleum (Downstream) and Gas.
The elated Senator said, “Distinguished Colleagues and Honourable members, join me to thank President Bola Tinubu-led government and in particular, the NNPCL for the planned establishment of five LNG plants in Ajaokuta, Kogi Cental Senatorial District.
“I would like to thank NNPCL and the industry experts who have also considered and humbled us at Ajaokuta Local Government, with the establishment of five mini LNG plants which will be flagged off this month.
“It will actually be the largest concentration of such projects in one district in the entire country. Five, not one, two, three, four, but five mini LNG plants at once.
“The establishment of these Mini LNG plants is a testament to the government’s dedication to providing innovative solutions to meet the energy demands of our people.
“By tapping into the vast natural gas resources in Kogi, these plants will create employment opportunities, stimulate industrial development, and ensure access to cleaner and more affordable energy for households, businesses, and industries.
“I’m inviting you all to celebrate with me, my constituents in Kogi Central and residents of Ajaokuta on the well envisioned and highly welcome projects , which will serve as needed catalysts for total reinvigoration of Ajaokuta Iron and Steel plant.”
Members of the joint committees chaired by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP Cross River North), spontaneously rejoiced with her by telling her to make provision for Aircraft that will fly them to Ajaokuta on the day of ground breaking ceremony for the plants .
Senator Natasha at another budget defence engagement on Saturday,
called for urgent attention to be given to the Ukpogo Cottage Hospital in Okene in the 2025 budget.
Natasha who made the call during Senate Committee on Health meeting with the heads of various federal medical centers on Saturday, noted that despite significant federal government investment, the hospital has not been operational, failing to meet its intended purpose.
“There is a facility annexed to you called the Ukpogo Cottage Hospital, Okene. It’s a 50-bed capacity, fully equipped hospital. Why has it not been operational, considering the fact that it is an extension of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, and was established purposely to cater for accidents and armed robbery cases along the busy Okene-Auchi road?” She queried.
She also demanded to know if the operationality of the facility was captured in the 2025 budget.
In response, Dr Olatunde Alabi, the Chief Medical Director of FMC Lokoja, explained that the facility was handed over to them four years ago.
He acknowledged that efforts had been made to make it functional, but progress has been impeded.
Dr Alabi mentioned that attempts to assign staff to the facility were unsuccessful due to a shortage of personnel at FMC Lokoja.
He appealed to the committee for intervention, emphasising that making the facility operational would greatly alleviate the patient load at FMC Lokoja, particularly from the Kogi Central area.
He also warned that the equipment at Ukpogo Cottage Hospital is deteriorating due to lack of use, and if the facility remains non-operational, it will worsen.