The Orashi National Congress, ONC, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the four Orashi Local Government Areas – Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, has unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Senator Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, representing Rivers West Senatorial District.
In a statement signed by its President General, Amb. Comrade Emeni Ibe, JP, AP, the group said the resolution was reached after a thorough appraisal of her legislative stewardship, constituency outreach and national service as Chairman, Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).
The ONC highlighted her legislative achievements at the national level to include sponsorship and passage of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF, Amendment Bill in April 2026, which increased health funding from one per cent to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to expand primary healthcare nationwide.
It also listed the sponsorship of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, SSB, Tax Bill – Customs, Excise Tariff Amendment Bill SB.713 – passed in June 2026, replacing the flat N10 levy with a percentage-based levy to fund health promotion, disease prevention and health insurance for vulnerable populations.
The group noted that she was recognised as a 2026 Health Champion Award recipient by the Federal Ministry of Health and reaffirmed commitment to Family Planning funding, securing N2 billion counterpart funding in the 2024 budget.
On constituency empowerment, ONC said Banigo has recorded unmatched interventions in Rivers West, including training and empowerment of 140 youths with solar installation skills in installation and maintenance of Lithium-Ion based streetlights with starter packs, and empowerment of 100 women and youths in Degema and Omoku with intensive poultry farming training, where each beneficiary received 2,500 birds, feeds, cages, drugs and N130,000 cash grant.
Other interventions listed include agricultural empowerment in fishery, piggery, poultry and cucumber value chains, commissioning of a new market in Obuama Town and empowerment of residents with mini-buses, free healthcare programmes under the Kingdom Mandate Health Insurance Programme in collaboration with the NHIA at Ahoada, donation of medical equipment to Degema Zonal Hospital and distribution of palliatives across Rivers West during festive seasons.
“Distinguished Senator Banigo has distinguished herself as one of the most effective and accessible lawmakers to have represented Rivers West. Her service is marked by compassion, accessibility and tangible delivery of democratic dividends,” ONC said.
“In a time when many seek representation, Senator Banigo has shown that proper representation is about service, not status; better representation is about impacting lives, not just occupying a seat,” it added.
Consequently, the Congress resolved to pass a vote of confidence on Senator Banigo, declare her the model of proper and better representation for Rivers West, commend the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting platforms that enable productive representation, and urge constituents across Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Bonny, Degema, Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru to continue to support her.
