The Digest:
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has criticised the Federal Government’s reported spending of $9 million on foreign lobbyists in Washington, describing it as wasteful and misaligned with national priorities. In a signed statement, Obi contrasted Nigeria’s stagnant Human Development Index ranking over 35 years with the progress of countries like China and Indonesia. He highlighted Nigeria’s low life expectancy and high maternal mortality rates, arguing that the funds could have been used to equip major teaching hospitals across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Key Points:
- The spending reflects a recurring misplacement of priorities, where image management abroad is favoured over tangible domestic investment.
- Redirecting such funds could directly improve healthcare infrastructure, potentially lowering mortality rates and raising life expectancy.
- The critique underscores a leadership accountability gap in translating public resources into measurable human development outcomes.
- It reinforces public skepticism about government spending, especially amid pressing economic and social challenges.
- The timing highlights a growing discourse on fiscal responsibility and the need for transparency in international engagements.
Obi’s statement amplifies calls for a fundamental reordering of budgetary priorities toward health, education, and welfare over external perception management.
Sources: Vanguard News
