This post has already been read at least 1114 times!

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government’s approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across the six geopolitical zones, describing the decision as a glaring case of misplaced priority.

In a statement on Friday, Obi said the expenditure reflects “lack of competence, lack of focus, and poor leadership” in resource allocation. He argued that in the 2024 budget, the combined allocation for all teaching hospitals in federal universities, alongside federal psychiatric centres, is less than ₦100 billion—significantly lower than the amount approved for the bus terminals.

“The difference between the success and failure of development in any nation is how you prioritise your scarce resources,” Obi said. “The fact that the government is willing to spend ₦142 billion on bus terminals, while our health sector is crumbling and underfunded, is disturbing.”

Citing a World Health Organization (WHO) report that over 20 million Nigerians are currently living with mental health issues, Obi stressed that the health sector should be among the top areas of focus for national development.

“This is not only a misplaced priority but a tragic irony of our country. This is not governance,” the former Anambra State governor declared.

Reaffirming his commitment to what he described as a more people-centred leadership, Obi concluded his statement with a call for transformational change, adding: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”

This post has already been read at least 1114 times!