Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described Nigeria as a “disgraced country,” citing poor healthcare funding and misplaced national priorities as the world marked World Health Day.
In a strongly worded post shared on X, Obi called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, lamenting that the country’s health system continues to deteriorate despite its large population and resources.
Obi expressed concern over Nigeria’s healthcare performance, stating that the country now records worse infant mortality rates than India and maintains extremely low health insurance coverage.
“Today, as the world marks World Health Day, we must pause for honest reflection. Nigeria, a nation of over 200 million people, continues to grapple with one of the weakest healthcare systems in the world. Our primary healthcare structure is almost comatose. We now record worse infant mortality outcomes than India, a country with a larger population, while health insurance coverage in Nigeria remains below 5%. These are not just statistics; they are a painful indictment of our priorities,” he wrote.
The former Anambra State governor also raised alarm over what he described as disturbing funding gaps in the health sector, referencing disclosures by the Minister of Health.
“Recent disclosures by the Honourable Minister of Health show that out of the ₦218 billion appropriated for healthcare capital expenditure, only about ₦36 million has been released. This is deeply troubling,” Obi stated.
He contrasted the amount released for healthcare with projected legal expenditures by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“At the same time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected over ₦135 billion for legal expenditures. Let us reflect on this.”
Obi warned that the limited funding for healthcare would negatively affect major federal medical institutions across the country, which serve millions of Nigerians.
He listed several affected institutions, including:
University of Benin Teaching Hospital
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital
University College Hospital
Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital
Jos University Teaching Hospital
Lagos University Teaching Hospital
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital
…and several other federal medical centres nationwide.
According to Obi, these institutions remain overstretched and underfunded despite their strategic importance.
“These institutions represent hope for millions. Yet, they remain underfunded, overstretched, and burdened by systemic neglect,” he said.
“A Nation That Has Lost Its Way”
The former presidential candidate warned that Nigeria risks undermining its future if healthcare and education continue to receive inadequate attention.
“A nation that prepares more for electoral disputes than for the health of its citizens is a nation that has lost its way.”
He further urged Nigerians to question the country’s priorities.
“We must begin to ask the difficult but necessary questions: What are our true priorities? What kind of nation are we building? And for whom?”
Obi concluded by calling for urgent investment in healthcare and education, stressing that both sectors remain critical to national development.
“Healthcare and education are not optional; they are the foundation of national development. Any country that neglects them undermines its own future. Nigeria must urgently reorder its priorities. We must invest in the health and wellbeing of our people, strengthen our institutions, and build a system that works for all, not just a few. A new Nigeria is POssible.”