The $9 million allegedly spent by the Federal Government on foreign lobbyists, according to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential contender, might have been prudently utilized to upgrade healthcare capacities and buy necessary hospital equipment.
According to sources, Peter Obi called the Federal Government’s approval of a $9 million contract for lobbying services in the US a national disgrace in a post on Friday on 𝕏.
According to Peter Obi, Nigerian politicians’ continued preference for waste, corruption, misinformation, lies, and unfavorable aspects of progress over constructive initiatives is both tragic and alarming.
The former governor of Anambra State claims that instead of funding life-saving initiatives, the FG spends millions to hide the nation’s shortcomings.
“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,” he said. The shameful state of Nigeria is in line with this circumstance.
This is only a tiny illustration of how unnecessary spending has led to the current state of failure in our country. The Human Development Index (HDI), a crucial indicator of development, can be used to further highlight the effects of such waste. Nigeria has spent 35 years, from 1990 to 2025, stagnating in the low HDI category.
Comparable countries in the same low category, such Indonesia and China (where Nigeria’s per capita income was three times higher in 1990), have progressed from low to medium and now high classifications.
“These countries’ successes were the outcome of decisions and the cumulative effects of both good and bad leadership, not fate, miracles, or natural endowments.” The significance of setting priorities is highlighted by this.
Let’s examine the components of HDI—life expectancy (health), education, and per capita income (poverty)—in order to further clarify the ramifications of the $9 million expenditure. In each of the three categories, Nigeria is failing. For example, let’s look at the $9 million, or around N14 billion, that was misused in the health sector. Nigeria now has the lowest life expectancy in the world and is one of the top two countries in the world for maternal mortality, making childbirth one of the riskiest experiences for Nigerian women. We spend millions attempting to hide our shortcomings rather than funding life-saving technologies.
“It would have been prudent to use the $9 million spent on foreign lobbyists to buy necessary medical equipment for Nigerian hospitals, enhancing our healthcare capabilities and favorably impacting our country’s reputation.”
This $9 million will directly improve survival rates, treatment, and life expectancy by covering the full 2024 capital budget for at least one major teaching hospital in each zone. The money is there; competent leadership, discipline, and priority are lacking.
