Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government’s recent approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across the country, describing the move as “another evidence of misplaced priority.”
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Thursday, Obi argued that the allocation of such a huge sum for bus terminals, while critical sectors like health remain grossly underfunded, reflects poor governance.
“The difference between the success and failure of 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,” he said.
Obi drew attention to the 2024 national budget, noting that the combined budget of all teaching hospitals in federal universities and psychiatric centres nationwide is under ₦100 billion — less than what has now been earmarked for bus terminals.
He warned that the decision undermines healthcare delivery, especially at a time when the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that over 20 million Nigerians are living with mental health issues.
“This is disturbing, considering that health is one of the most critical areas of development, which is deteriorating and remains grossly underfunded. This is not only a misplaced priority but a tragic irony of our country. This is not governance,” Obi stressed.
The Federal Government is yet to officially respond to Obi’s remarks, but the approval of the ₦142 billion project has already stirred heated debates over national priorities, with critics arguing that investments should be redirected towards healthcare, education, and other social sectors.
Credit: @PeterObi via X.
Leave a Reply