Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has publicly criticized the Federal Government’s decision to allocate ₦142 billion for new bus terminals across the country. In a statement titled “₦142 Billion for Bus Terminals,” Obi described the move as a major example of the government’s misplaced priorities and poor management of limited national funds.

Obi argued that the way a nation prioritizes its resources determines its success or failure. He views the approval of ₦142 billion for just one bus terminal in each of the six geopolitical zones as a clear sign of incompetence and a lack of focus from the current leadership.

To highlight his point, Obi drew a sharp contrast between the bus terminal project and the country’s healthcare system. He pointed out that the entire budget for all federal teaching hospitals and psychiatric centers in the 2024 fiscal year is less than ₦100 billion. He called this disparity “disturbing,” given that the healthcare sector is critically underfunded and in decline. Obi also mentioned a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report stating that over 20 million Nigerians are living with mental health issues, calling the government’s investment a “tragic irony” and a failure of governance.

While the Federal Executive Council approved the funding to modernize transport infrastructure, Obi insisted that investing in essential sectors like healthcare should be a much higher priority. He concluded that the government’s choice to spend such a massive amount on bus terminals over critical social services demonstrates a flawed approach to national development.