Former presidential candidate and ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s failing healthcare system, insisting that national development should be measured by improvements in health, education, and poverty reduction, not just physical infrastructure.
Speaking at a high-profile event hosted by ANAP Doctors in North America and the University of Nigeria Alumni at Eko Hotel, Lagos, Obi challenged Nigeria’s current development approach.
“The most critical measures of development are not physical infrastructure such as road construction or buildings, but health, which is measured by the Human Development Index. This is why we say health is wealth,” he said.
Obi highlighted alarming statistics, noting that over 70 percent of Nigeria’s primary healthcare centres are non-functional, largely due to poor infrastructure and a severe shortage of skilled medical professionals.
He lamented that Nigeria currently achieves only 10% of the globally recommended doctor-to-population ratio, while countries like India—with a population over seven times larger—have reached approximately 80%.
Obi also pointed out the disparity between Nigeria and South Africa, stating that South Africa’s 2024/2025 healthcare budget is more than double what Nigeria has allocated over a five-year period, despite Nigeria having a significantly larger population.
He criticised the government’s handling of borrowed funds, revealing that Nigeria has secured over $11 billion from the World Bank between 2023 and now for healthcare and medical education, with little to show for it.
“We have borrowed heavily to support our healthcare system, but these investments have not translated into significant improvements,” Obi stated.
He called for an urgent redirection of national planning and expenditure.
“We must urgently realign our budgeting to focus on areas of critical need—such as healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation—to create meaningful, long-lasting impact.”
Obi praised the alumni and medical professionals who raised $1 million to support healthcare initiatives, commending their dedication to national development beyond borders.
