Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly criticized the federal government’s decision to allocate ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, describing the project as a fundamental misallocation of scarce national resources.
Obi expressed his disapproval following the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of the terminal construction project, arguing that the massive expenditure demonstrates poor leadership and misguided priorities in a nation grappling with widespread poverty and crumbling infrastructure.
In a statement addressing the controversy, Obi emphasized that effective resource allocation is the determining factor between successful and failed national development. He questioned the government’s decision-making process, particularly when comparing the bus terminal budget to critical sectors that remain severely underfunded.
The former Anambra State governor highlighted a stark contrast in government spending priorities, pointing out that the entire 2024 budget allocation for all federal university teaching hospitals and federal psychiatric centers across the country amounts to less than ₦100 billion. This figure falls significantly short of the ₦142 billion approved for the bus terminal project.
Obi drew attention to Nigeria’s healthcare crisis, citing recent World Health Organization data indicating that over 20 million Nigerians are currently living with mental health issues. He argued that healthcare, being one of the most critical development sectors, continues to deteriorate due to inadequate funding while the government prioritizes infrastructure projects of questionable immediate necessity.
The criticism comes at a time when Nigeria faces multiple socio-economic challenges, including high poverty rates, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and deteriorating public services. Obi suggested that the government’s approach to spending reflects a lack of competence and focus in addressing the nation’s most pressing needs.
Describing the situation as a “tragic irony,” Obi argued that the bus terminal project exemplifies everything wrong with Nigeria’s governance approach. He contended that true leadership requires making difficult choices about resource allocation, prioritizing projects that directly impact citizens’ welfare and quality of life.
The former presidential candidate’s criticism reflects broader concerns among opposition figures and civil society groups about the current administration’s spending priorities and its commitment to addressing fundamental challenges facing ordinary Nigerians.
