Delta Govt Accused of Betrayal as Polobubo’s Chevron-Funded ₦596m Hospital Remains Non-Functional Since 2018

Residents of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) in Warri North local government area of Delta State, have accused the state government of betraying the trust reposed on the government as their long-awaited healthcare facility, a ₦596 million hospital funded by Chevron Nigeria Limited, remains abandoned and non-operational four years after its commissioning.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports despite the substantial investment and the community’s vital role in the state’s oil industry, the hospital has become a symbol of government neglect, leaving thousands without access to basic medical services and costing countless lives.

Community leaders and residents are now calling on the Delta State government to fulfill its obligation and restore the hospital’s purpose as a lifeline for the people.

The ₦596 million investment by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in partnership with the Egbema-Gbaramatu Community Development Foundation (EGCDF), remained closed and under-equipped since its handover to the Delta State Government in 2018.

President of the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Bloc Communities, Paul Toruwei who lamented the situation, in a statement on Thursday, called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to take responsibility of the neglect and correct the abnormally immediately.

He stated that the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Cottage Hospital, stands today as a stark symbol of abandonment—despite its noble origins and critical importance to the community it was built to serve.

“Everyday, community members are dying from treatable illnesses because there are no staff, no equipment, and no medical care,” he lamented.

“Hundreds of lives—children, pregnant women, the elderly—have been lost simply because the hospital was built but never truly equipped or managed to serve the people.

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“We have lost hundreds of souls—including children and pregnant women—as a direct result of this hospital not functioning. Conditions that should have been easily treated have become fatal due to the absence of prompt medical attention. The community mourns, not because help is impossible, but because it has been willfully withheld”.

Toruwei stated that the facility was envisioned as a vital healthcare lifeline for a community that significantly contributes to the state’s economy through oil and gas operations, including Chevron’s offshore and onshore facilities, NPDC/Elcrest’s Opuama Flow Station, and upcoming projects by Sahara Energy and Conoil Nigeria Limited.

“This failure is particularly unacceptable when viewed against the immense contributions of the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community to the economic strength of Delta State and the nation at large. The community plays host to numerous major oil and gas operations, including: Chevron Nigeria Limited* in Opuekeba, Olero Fields, and offshore flow stations, NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture, operators of the Opuama Flow Station (OML 40), Tsekelewu/Polobubo Marginal Field, with about 5 oil wells to be operated by Sahara Energy Limited, Tsekelewu/Polobubo Marginal Field–OML 130 Concession, set to be operated by Conoil Nigeria Limited”.

He lamented that despite these economic contributions, the community remains deprived of basic healthcare services.

Toruwei said that repeated appeals by community leaders for government intervention have fallen on deaf ears, stressing that the hospital remains without resident doctors, nurses, or technicians, and essential medical supplies are scarce.

“As a result, preventable conditions now claim lives daily, with community members mourning loved ones lost to ailments that could have been cured or managed in a functioning hospital.

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“This neglect not only undermines the community’s health but also questions the government’s commitment to its social responsibilities.

“Polobubo is not a forgotten outpost; it is a critical economic and social hub,” Toruwei emphasized.

He called on the Delta State government to act now by deploying qualified staff, upgrade the equipment, and restore the hospital’s operational capacity to save lives.

“The governor should urgently intervene to fulfill their obligations in order to save further loss of lives. The community demands immediate action to revive the hospital, including staffing, procurement of medical equipment, and sustainable funding, to ensure that healthcare is a right, not a privilege”, he added.

“Your Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, we remind you that Polobubo is not a forgotten outpost—it is one of Delta State’s most vital economic assets. Its people deserve more than neglect; they deserve life, dignity, and access to basic healthcare.

“As the community mourns its dead and continues to face daily health crises, the message is clear: the time for neglect has passed. The Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Cottage Hospital must be revived to serve as a beacon of hope and a testament to the government’s commitment to its people”, he said.

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“The Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community has kept its part of the social contract—supporting the economy, enabling oil production, and accepting corporate presence. It is time for the government to honor its responsibility to protect and care for the people.

“Let the Polobubo Cottage Hospital live up to its purpose. Let it save lives—not be the reason lives are lost”.