Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at the Federal Government over its recent approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Obi criticised the decision, describing it as a glaring example of misplaced priorities and a demonstration of how the nation’s scarce resources are being channelled into less impactful projects at the expense of critical sectors like health and education.
According to reports, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the ₦142 billion project with the justification that the initiative would modernise transport infrastructure, ease travel, and promote connectivity between regions. However, Obi disagreed strongly, stressing that while infrastructure is important, leaders must prioritise sectors that directly impact human capital development before embarking on projects of this nature.
In a detailed statement issued on Friday, which he personally titled “₦142 Billion for Bus Terminals”, Obi expressed dismay at what he considered to be reckless leadership and an absence of thoughtful planning. He argued that the difference between progressive nations and struggling ones is not merely in how much money is available but in how governments choose to prioritise spending. He warned that Nigeria’s future would remain bleak unless leaders adopt a clear sense of direction and invest in the right areas.
“The difference between the success and failure of development in any nation lies in how leaders allocate and manage scarce resources. The recent announcement that ₦142 billion has been approved by the Federal Government for the construction of one bus terminal in each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria is further proof of a lack of focus, poor leadership, and outright incompetence in governance,” Obi stated.
He went on to draw a sharp comparison between the colossal allocation for bus terminals and the nation’s struggling health sector. According to him, the entire budgetary provision for all federal teaching hospitals and psychiatric institutions combined in the 2024 budget is less than ₦100 billion. He stressed that such a reality reflects the government’s indifference to the suffering of ordinary Nigerians and its failure to address urgent health crises.
“This is particularly alarming when you consider that healthcare is among the most vital sectors of any society, yet it is continually neglected and grossly underfunded in Nigeria. The World Health Organisation recently reported that more than 20 million Nigerians are living with various forms of mental health challenges. With such figures staring us in the face, one would expect leaders to channel funds towards mental health facilities, hospitals, research, and support systems. Unfortunately, this government has chosen to spend a far larger amount on bus terminals,” Obi lamented.
He further described the allocation as not just a misplaced priority but also a tragic irony, pointing out that while citizens grapple with a collapsing healthcare system, lack of access to quality education, and rising poverty, leaders continue to celebrate projects that add little to the real progress of the nation.
“This is not governance. Governance is about making the right choices for the people, about investing in health, education, and human development — areas that secure the future of any country. What we are witnessing is the opposite: misplaced priorities, poor planning, and failure of leadership. Until we learn to prioritise human development, Nigeria will continue to lag behind,” Obi concluded.