Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has said that Nigeria must cease to function as a crime scene and be repositioned for genuine development.
Obi stated this via his X handle on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
He emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to change its course and focus on real development instead of being seen as a land of crime.
In his post, the ex-governor expressed deep concern about the persistent issues of corruption and mismanagement in the country.
Obi highlighted the discoveries made by BudgIT, which found that about ₦7 trillion (over $18 billion) in questionable spending was included in the 2025 national budget.
He said that he believes the amount is likely just a fraction of the total money that has been misused.
“This misuse of funds is one of the main reasons why Nigeria struggles to advance and improve the lives of its citizens,” he asserted.
Obi said the total amount found in the budget for questionable projects is even greater than the combined funds allocated to key sectors, like health, education, humanitarian support, and agriculture, which are crucial for the nation’s development.
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He gave an example of the Ministry of Education receiving ₦3.52 trillion, the Ministry of Health got ₦2.48 trillion, and the amount allocated to help those in poverty was only ₦260 billion, yet all these combined still fall short of the questionable ₦7 trillion.
The Anambra-born politician said the level of corruption is detrimental not just to education, where nearly 20 million children are out of school, but also to healthcare, as many children also suffer from malnutrition.
Additionally, he said it hampers investment in agriculture and national security, leaving the country vulnerable.
Obi insists that the time has come for Nigeria to confront these issues head-on, challenging the government to manage resources with transparency, while investing in vital areas like health, education, and lifting people out of poverty.
He called for a collective effort to transform Nigeria into a place of genuine development and opportunity.
