Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over the poor and comatose healthcare systems in Nigeria.
In a statement marking 2026 World Health Day on Wednesday, Mr Obi said, “Today, as the world marks World Health Day, we must pause for honest reflection. 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.
“We now record worse infant mortality outcomes than India, a country with a larger population, while health insurance coverage in Nigeria remains below 5%. These are not just statistics; they are a painful indictment of our priorities.”
Mr Obi further described as troubling the inadequate funds allocated to healthcare capital expenditure and the amount released so far.
“Recent disclosures by the Honourable Minister of Health show that out of the ₦218 billion appropriated for healthcare capital expenditure, only about ₦36 million has been released. This is deeply troubling,” he added.
While noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission projected over ₦135 billion for legal expenditures, Mr Obi said, “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 well-being.”
He pointed out that the same primary healthcare system was expected to serve millions of Nigerians and support critical institutions such as the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and several other health institutions across the country.
“These institutions represent hope for millions. Yet, they remain underfunded, overstretched, and burdened by systemic neglect. A nation that prepares more for electoral disputes than for the health of its citizens is a nation that has lost its way,” the politician said.
