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The President of the Isoko Development Union (IDU), Prof. Chris Akpotu, has described President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the bill establishing the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Oleh, Delta State, as a historic milestone that ends decades of perceived federal neglect of the Isoko people.

Speaking on AIT’s Kaakaki programme on Thursday, Akpotu said the approval of the FMC had given the Isoko nation a renewed sense of belonging in the Nigerian federation after years of lacking meaningful federal presence.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for signing the bill into law, saying the gesture had restored hope among the people of Delta South Senatorial District, particularly the Isoko ethnic nationality.

“This is one moment the people of Delta South Senatorial District, especially the Isoko people, will continue to celebrate because it reflects our long history of deprivation,” he said. “For once, we have been made to believe that we truly belong to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and now have a reason to celebrate federal presence in our land.”

Akpotu also commended Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who represents Delta South Senatorial District, for sponsoring the bill, describing him as an effective representative who understood the developmental needs of his constituents.

He further praised the Nigerian Senate for passing the legislation and acknowledged the role played by lawmakers in ensuring its eventual assent by the President.

“When the bill was passed by the Senate, we hoped it would not end like many others that never received presidential assent. We thank God that President Tinubu renewed our hope by signing it into law,” he said.

According to the IDU president, the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre would significantly improve healthcare delivery in Delta South while creating employment opportunities during its construction and subsequent operation.

He noted that beyond providing quality healthcare services, the hospital would generate jobs for construction workers, medical professionals and other support staff, thereby boosting the local economy.

Akpotu lamented that despite Isoko’s enormous contribution to Nigeria’s economy through oil and gas production, the ethnic nationality had received little in terms of federal appointments and infrastructure over the years.

“You cannot discuss Nigeria’s GDP or foreign reserves without acknowledging the contributions of the Isoko people. Yet, for decades, we have had little or no federal presence to celebrate,” he said.

He added that the people had neither produced a minister nor headed major federal agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), making the establishment of the FMC particularly significant.

The IDU president appealed to President Tinubu to facilitate the immediate commencement of construction work on the project to ensure that the benefits of the legislation are quickly realised.

He assured that the Isoko Development Union would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

“We appeal to Mr. President to ensure early commencement of construction so that this historic gesture translates into tangible benefits for our people. The IDU will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the project comes to fruition,” Akpotu said.

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The United States on Tuesday expanded its sanctions aiming at Iran’s oil sector, taking further aim at the network of petroleum shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the Treasury Department said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department had also frozen $130 million held in digital wallets linked to Iran’s central bank, hitting a sector that has seen increased activity since the start of the war.

The move came after US forces carried out a fourth straight day of strikes against Iran and reimposed a naval blockade, with Iran in turn hitting ships in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the International Maritime Organization.

Iran started blocking the strait — a key waterway for energy transit — after US-Israel attacks in February. Washington imposed an initial blockade on Tehran’s ports from mid-April to mid-June.

“This action is part of Treasury’s ongoing efforts to ramp up economic pressure on the Iranian regime after it resumed destabilizing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz,” the Treasury Department said in a notice Tuesday.

It charged that the Shamkhani network remains a key force behind Iran’s oil exports, and has expanded into global commodities trading.

The latest move took aim at more than 50 individuals, entities and vessels that it said enabled Iranian authorities to reap profit.

The Treasury Department added that it has now imposed sanctions on over 200 individuals, entities and vessels operating under Shamkhani’s patronage.

Shamkhani is the son of security official Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Both were killed February 28, the first day of US-Israeli attacks and the start of the Middle East war.

Bessent said the department “sanctioned multiple wallets tied to the Central Bank of Iran, resulting in the freeze of over $130 million.”

“We will continue to aggressively follow the money and deny the Iranian regime access to the proceeds of its illicit revenue schemes,” he said in a post on X.

Experts say digital asset platforms have been used to circumvent sanctions placed on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and as a financial safe haven for civilians hit by soaring inflation.

Iran has largely been cut off from the global financial system due to US and European sanctions in place for years before the war. Cryptocurrency has offered a path for citizens and businesses to transact with the rest of the world.