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Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised the Federal Government for reportedly spending 9 million dollars on foreign lobbying. He said the expenditure reflects misplaced priorities amid worsening development indicators.
Obi shared his views on X (formerly Twitter), reacting to reports that public funds were used to lobby policymakers in Washington. He argued that while 9 million dollars is a large sum, it is only a fraction of Nigeria’s broader inefficiencies and wasteful spending.
Obi Highlights Governance Problems
He warned that a culture of waste, corruption, and poor prioritisation continues to harm Nigeria’s development. According to Obi, the government often prioritises image over real improvements in citizens’ lives.
He said, “It is both tragic and concerning that our leaders continue to prioritise waste, corruption, propaganda, lies, and negative aspects of development over positive initiatives.”
Obi emphasised that public resources should address real problems, such as healthcare, education, and income growth, instead of managing perceptions abroad.
Nigeria’s Human Development Index Performance
Obi criticised Nigeria’s long-standing performance on the Human Development Index (HDI). The country has remained in the low HDI category for 35 years, from 1990 to 2025.
In contrast, countries like China and Indonesia, which were once in the same category, have moved to medium and high HDI levels. Obi noted that Nigeria had a per capita income three times higher than China’s in 1990, yet failed to translate this into sustained human development.
He stressed that this divergence is not accidental. Instead, it reflects leadership choices, policy priorities, and discipline over time.
Health Sector Spending vs Lobbying
To illustrate the gap, Obi cited the 2024 capital budget allocations for six federal teaching hospitals, one in each geopolitical zone:
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N2.67 billion for University College Hospital, Ibadan
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N2.46 billion for Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
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N2.8 billion for University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu
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N2.43 billion for University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City
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N1.16 billion for University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin
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N2.37 billion for University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri
The total is approximately N13.9 billion. Obi said this situation is unacceptable and that every naira of taxpayers’ money should directly benefit Nigerians.
Background to the Lobbying Reports
The Federal Government reportedly spends 750,000 dollars monthly on a U.S. Republican-linked lobbying firm. The funds are intended to counter claims of Christian persecution and address separatist narratives among conservative circles.
Nigeria increasingly relies on U.S. military support to fight jihadist groups in the north and northwest. At a time of rising poverty and declining public services, Obi’s criticism adds to public debate over government spending and national development priorities.
