Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to “pause for honest reflection” as the country continues to struggle with a “weak” healthcare system.
Obi made the call as the world marks World Health Day.
As a country, the population of Nigeria has exceeded 200 million and the country’s healthcare system remains “one of the weakest” in the world with the structure of the primary healthcare “almost comatose”.
Via X, Obi said: “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.”
He said, the country now records “worse” outcomes of infant mortality than India that has a more enormous population, adding, health insurance coverage in the West African country still lies “below 5%”
The former Labour Party (LP) member said, these are a “painful indictment of our priorities” and are “not just statistics”.
Obi wailed over a “deeply troubling” disclosure made by Minister of Health over an amount released for healthcare capital expenditure.
According to Obi, the Minister revealed, “out of the ₦218 billion appropriated for healthcare capital expenditure, only about ₦36 million has been released”.
He called on Nigerians to reflect on a projection by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of more than “₦135 billion” for “legal expenditures”.
Obi said: “At the same time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected over ₦135 billion for legal expenditures.
“The amount earmarked for election-related litigation is far higher than what has been made available for primary healthcare, the very foundation of a nation’s wellbeing. This is the same primary healthcare system expected to serve millions of Nigerians and support critical institutions such as:
“Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife
“University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu
“Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos.
“These institutions represent hope for millions. Yet, they remain underfunded, overstretched, and burdened by systemic neglect.”
Obi said, the time has come for Nigerians to ask those questions that are “difficult but necessary”, adding, for a nation to develop, “healthcare and education” must be top on the list.
He said: “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?
“Healthcare and education are not optional; they are the foundation of national development. Any country that neglects them undermines its own future.”
World Health Day:
World Health Day is a world health awareness day celebrated on 7 April every year, sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) alongside other related Organizations.
According to who.int:
On World Health Day 2026, WHO unites and mobilizes the world under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.”
celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the planet.
The year‑long campaign spotlights both scientific achievements and the multilateral cooperation needed to turn evidence into action.
In a world facing complex health threats, WHO calls on everyone to stand with science – by engaging with evidence, facts, and science-based guidance to protect health.
Photo: World Health Day
