Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Tuesday criticised the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, warning that the country’s poor funding priorities are worsening outcomes for millions of citizens.
In a statement to mark World Health Day, Obi said Nigeria’s primary healthcare system had become “almost comatose,” lamenting what he described as chronic underinvestment in health and education.
The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over recent disclosures by the Minister of Health showing that only about ₦36 million had been released from the ₦218 billion appropriated for healthcare capital expenditure, describing the figure as deeply troubling.
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He contrasted the release with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s projected legal expenditure of over ₦135 billion, saying the comparison raised serious questions about the country’s priorities.
According to Obi, a nation that appears more prepared for election-related litigation than investment in healthcare has “lost its way.”
He said the underfunding was particularly worrying given the pressure on Nigeria’s major teaching hospitals and federal medical centres, which continue to serve millions of patients across the country.
Obi also pointed to worsening health indicators, including poor infant mortality outcomes and low health insurance coverage, warning that these were no longer mere statistics but evidence of systemic neglect.
He urged the Federal Government to urgently reorder its priorities and invest more aggressively in healthcare infrastructure, manpower and institutional reforms.
“Healthcare and education are not optional; they are the foundation of national development,” Obi said.
The remarks come as stakeholders across the country renewed calls for stronger investment in the health sector to mark World Health Day 2026.
