Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has sharply criticized the Federal Government’s approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, describing the decision as wasteful and a clear case of misplaced priorities.
In a statement posted on his official X handle today, Obi questioned the government’s sense of direction, stressing that true development depends on how a nation chooses to allocate its scarce resources.
“The difference between the success and failure of development in any nation is how you prioritise your scarce resources,” Obi wrote. “The recent announcement that a sum of ₦142 billion has been approved by the Federal Government for the construction of one bus terminal in each of our six geopolitical zones further affirms the lack of competence, lack of focus, and poor leadership.”
Obi compared the massive allocation to the healthcare sector, pointing out that the combined budget of all teaching hospitals across federal universities, as well as federal psychiatric centres, is less than ₦100 billion in the 2024 budget. He argued that such lopsided spending reflects a lack of vision, especially at a time when the country is battling a deteriorating health system.
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“Health is one of the most critical areas of development, yet it remains grossly underfunded,” he added, citing a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report that revealed over 20 million Nigerians are living with mental health conditions.
The former Anambra State governor described the development as a tragic irony, accusing the government of consistently ignoring sectors that directly affect the lives and wellbeing of citizens while splurging billions on projects that do little to address the nation’s pressing challenges.
“This is not governance,” Obi concluded, stressing that leadership should be about prioritizing investments that will lift Nigerians out of poverty, improve healthcare, and strengthen education, rather than indulging in extravagant projects that add little value.
Obi’s statement has since gone viral on social media, sparking heated debates among Nigerians over government spending priorities and the urgent need for accountability in public finance.
