By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has lamented the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, calling for urgent reforms in the sector.
Obi maintained that despite over $11 billion borrowed from the World Bank since the Tinubu administration took over the reins of power, key sectors like education, health and poverty alleviation are comatose.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at an event organised by ANAP Doctors in North America and the University of Nigeria Alumni at Eko Hotel, Lagos, Obi addressed the theme, “Beyond Borders – Uniting for Medical Excellence, Strengthening Our Alumni, and Inspiring the Next Generation.”
In a statement on Sunday via X, Obi stressed that true development should be measured by improvements in the Human Development Index (HDI) rather than physical infrastructure.
“The most critical measures of development are not physical infrastructure, such as road construction or buildings, but health, which is measured by the Human Development Index.
“This is why we say, ‘Health is wealth,’ along with education and lifting people out of poverty,” he said.
He painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, noting that more than 70 per cent of the country’s primary healthcare centres are non-functional due to poor facilities and inadequate manpower.
“Currently, Nigeria has only about 10% of the doctor-to-population ratio recommended by global standards,” Obi said.
Comparing Nigeria to India, he noted that the South Asian country, despite having a population about seven times Nigeria’s, has achieved approximately 80 per cent of the recommended doctor-to-population ratio.
“India is also actively expanding its network of medical colleges,” he added.
He also cited South Africa’s example, stating that the country’s 2024/2025 healthcare budget is more than double what Nigeria has allocated to healthcare between 2021 and 2025, despite Nigeria having over three times South Africa’s population.
Obi criticised the use of borrowed funds, which he said have not translated into visible improvements in the sector.
“We have borrowed heavily to support our healthcare system, securing several billions of dollars from multilateral agencies. However, these investments have not resulted in significant improvements,” he said.
He disclosed that Nigeria has borrowed over $11 billion from the World Bank alone between 2023 and the present for healthcare and medical education, yet the sector remains in dire need.
“Our budgeting and borrowed funds should be directed towards the critical needs of healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation,” Obi stressed.
He called for an urgent realignment of government expenditure.
“We must urgently realign our planning, budgeting, and expenditures to ensure that borrowed funds are channelled towards areas of critical need—such as healthcare, medical education, and access to quality care that will truly benefit the population and create a lasting, positive impact,” he said.
Obi commended the organisers of the event for their efforts in raising $1 million to support healthcare initiatives.
“My sincere gratitude to the university alumni for organising the effort to raise $1 million for this noble initiative,” he said, while also praising the alumni, professionals, and friends of UNCOMMA for their commitment and generosity.
