Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has
described as a national disgrace, reports that the Federal Government approved
a $9 million contract for lobbying services in the United States,
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Friday,
Obi said it is both tragic and concerning that Nigerian leaders continue to
prioritize waste, corruption, propaganda, lies, and negative aspects of
development over positive initiatives.
He wrote, “Recently, it was reported that $9 million of
taxpayers’ money was spent on lobbyists in Washington, which I believe is just
a small fraction of the global waste occurring in the same manner. This
situation aligns with the disgraceful state of Nigeria.
“This is merely a small example of wasteful spending that
has contributed to our nation’s current failing status. To further illustrate
the impact of such waste, we can look at a critical measure of development: the
Human Development Index (HDI). Nigeria has remained stagnant in the low HDI
category for 35 years, from 1990 to 2025.
“In contrast, comparable nations within the same low
category, such as China—where Nigeria had a three-fold higher per capita income
in 1990—and Indonesia have advanced from low to medium, and now to high
categories.
“The achievements of these nations were not the result of
fate, miracles, or natural endowments, but rather a consequence of choices and
the cumulative effects of good and bad leadership. This underscores the
importance of prioritization.
“To explain further the implications of the $9 million
expenditure, let’s consider the components of HDI: life expectancy (health),
education, and per capita income (poverty). Nigeria is failing in all three
measures. For instance, regarding health, let’s examine the $9 million, which
is approximately N14 billion spent wrongly. Nigeria now has the lowest life
expectancy in the world and ranks among the top two countries globally for
maternal mortality, making childbirth one of the most precarious experiences
for Nigerian women. Instead of investing in life-saving systems, we spend
millions trying to obscure our failures.
“The $9 million spent on foreign lobbyists could have been
used wisely to purchase essential hospital equipment for Nigerian hospitals,
improving our healthcare capabilities and positively influencing our national
image.
“This $9 million is sufficient to fund the entire 2024
capital budget for at least one major teaching hospital in each zone, directly
enhancing survival rates, care, and life expectancy. The funds are available;
what is lacking are prioritization, discipline, and effective leadership.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com