Peter Obi, 2027 Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said, it is “depressing” visiting “helpless” Nigerians in a “country of plenty”.
The former Governor of Anambra State made the statement on Friday when he met with “1,000” kidney patients in Enugu, describing his visit as “disheartening”.
After his trip to Benin City, Capital of Edo State for the funeral mass of Most Rev Obiora Akubeze, Obi took to X to reveal more than “25 million” Nigerians are “helplessly” living with kidney disease.
Obi said: “Yesterday, after the funeral mass of Most Rev Obiora Akubeze in Benin City, I travelled to Enugu to meet nearly 1,000 kidney patients. It was one of the most disheartening visits I have had.
“I encountered people facing the most difficult moments of their lives, helplessly, in a country of abundance, among them children.”
The former Labour Party (LP) member lamented, Nigeria has short of “200” kidney centres, adding, barely “500” dialysis machines are working; he said, the country needs about “5,000” operational dialysis machines.
He called on the Federal Government to “actively invest” in the health sector.
Obi said: “Nigeria has over 25 million people with kidney disease. We have fewer than 200 kidney centres and barely 500 functioning dialysis machines, when we ideally need about 5,000 functioning dialysis machines. This is completely unacceptable.
“The Federal Government, and Government at all levels must take the lead in actively investing in health to guarantee a healthier population for all.”
