Peter Obi, the Labour Party leader and 2023 Presidential Candidate, has raised concerns over the federal government’s budget of N142 billion for bus terminals, when teaching and psychiatric hospitals in the country have less than N100 billion.
The former Anambra State Governor sees this as signposting a poor sense of priority and commitment to the critical indices of development.
Obi, writing on his X handle on Friday, described it as clear evidence of misplaced priority, while neglecting critical engines of development like Healthcare.
He noted that “The difference between the success and failure of the development in any nation is how you prioritise your scarce resources.
“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 noted that under the 2024 budget, which is currently operational, the entire budget of all the teaching hospitals across all the federal universities in the country, as well as the federal psychiatric centres, is under ₦100 billion.
” Yet the government has approved ₦142 billion for bus terminals.
“This is disturbing, considering that Health is one of the most critical areas of development, which is deteriorating and remains grossly underfunded.”
Obi, citing a recent report by the World Health Organisation WHO, noted that ” over 20 million Nigerians are living with mental health issues.
“This is not only a misplaced priority but a tragic irony of our country. This is not governance”
