Peter Obi has opined that, in Nigeria, the time has come for the government to treat metal health as a “public health emergency”.
He made the statement on Mental Health Day 2025 on Friday 10 October, 2025.
Obi said, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals, “about 40 million people” are suffering mental health conditions in Nigeria, and sadly, there are “grossly fewer” mental health doctors, and, “fewer than 300” psychiatrists in the country.
In his message on X, Obi said: “As the world celebrates Mental Health Day this weekend, it is troubling to note that a nation like Nigeria has deepening mental health crises which recent report from World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that about 40 million people are living with mental health conditions, and grossly fewer doctors to attend to mental health, as fewer than 300 psychiatrists are available in the country.”
According to who.int:
The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
The former Governor of Anambra State believes, there is the need for more attention to mental health than physical health in Nigeria.
He said, “hardship” has seriously battered Nigerians that they are now “mentally affected”, and, called for more mental health specialists, as well as, more investment in mental health infrastructure.
Obi said: “Mental health is more important than physical health. Nigerians are now feeling so overwhelmed by hardship that they are mentally affected.
“Poverty, unemployment, and the daily battle to survive have pushed many of our people, especially the youth, into hopelessness, criminality and an increasing rate of suicide.
“The government must treat this as a public health emergency. Nigeria needs more mental health professionals and a massive investment in mental health infrastructure with well-equipped psychiatric hospitals in all geopolitical zones.”
