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.”
