Victor Obuzor, the lawmaker representing Ahoada West/Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency in Rivers State, has announced that the House of Representatives is pushing for the establishment of a Federal Institute for Vision and Optical Research in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Obuzor, who sponsored the bill for the establishment of the institute in Rivers State, shared this in Abuja on Tuesday during an interview with journalists at the National Assembly Complex. He explained that the initiative gained significant support during and after a recent public hearing on the bill at the National Assembly.
“The House is enthusiastic about the bill and has called for the institute to be replicated across all six geopolitical zones,” he said.
Highlighting the urgency of the proposal, Obuzor stressed that vision impairment is becoming an increasing public health concern, especially in underserved communities. He noted that an estimated 50 million Nigerians are affected by some form of visual disability, and over seven million are already blind. “The proposed institute is a critical step toward addressing this growing public health issue and improving the future of our citizens,” he added.
Obuzor further explained that vision disorders are reaching epidemic levels in Nigeria, worsened by limited access to eye care, particularly in rural areas. He cited projections from the World Health Organization, which suggest that the number of people with visual impairments could double by 2050 without proper intervention.
Additionally, Obuzor discussed another bill he sponsored to establish a Federal College of Optometry, offering degrees, diplomas, and certificates in optometry and related fields. He emphasized that governments worldwide invest heavily in healthcare and infrastructure to ensure the well-being of their citizens. “The impact of optometric care is growing globally, and investing in eye care is vital because without vision, life becomes difficult,” he said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, assured that if the bills are passed into law, they will address the current gap in vision healthcare research and development, leading to an increase in the number of qualified professionals and more specialized eye care facilities across Nigeria.