By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria — Senator Diket Plang on Monday made a passionate case for the establishment of the National Eye Centre, Pushit/Mangu, Plateau State, emphasizing the historic and strategic significance of the proposed location and the urgent need to expand eye-care services across Nigeria.
Presenting the bill at a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), Senator Plang highlighted that Pushit in Mangu Local Government Area holds a special place in Nigeria’s disability and medical education landscape. Mangu LGA, he noted, is home to the only missionary-established School for the Blind in Nigeria, a facility that currently hosts over 300 pupils from across Nigeria and parts of North Africa.
The senator explained that the school has produced exceptional graduates, including the first blind medical doctor from Borno, who later advanced to become an academic and professor — evidence, he said, of the transformative impact of early and consistent support for persons with visual impairments.
Senator Plang also drew attention to the preventable nature of most blindness cases.
“When I was in the seminary, we were taught that many of those who became blind did so due to lack of medical care,” he said. “If our people are exposed to eye care early, many would avoid permanent or even temporary blindness. Many of us here wear glasses — the difference is access to early intervention.”
He stressed that Pushit’s central geographical location makes it an ideal site for a National Eye Centre, as it is accessible from Bokkos, Pankshin, Kanke, and even parts of Nasarawa. Establishing the centre, he argued, would significantly expand access to specialized eye treatment for thousands of Nigerians, including the students who depend on the School for the Blind.
“Creating more national eye centres is crucial,” he said. “Kaduna has one, and by the grace of God, other regions should also have theirs. This centre will help lift people out of poverty, prevent avoidable blindness, and ensure our citizens receive the care they need before it is too late.”
Senator Plang thanked stakeholders for their participation and urged them to present their submissions clearly and concisely as the committee continues its review of the bill.
The public hearing also invited technical experts, civil society groups, and government representatives to make presentations on the proposed legislation.
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