The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government over reports that the Bola Tinubu administration approved $9 million for lobbying services in the United States, describing the move as wasteful and insensitive amid Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis.
Obi said the spending was unjustifiable at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with soaring inflation, food shortages, decaying infrastructure and a failing healthcare system.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the former Anambra State governor questioned the logic of investing billions of naira in image management abroad while critical sectors at home remain underfunded.
He argued that although the $9 million figure has attracted public attention, it represents only a small portion of the broader culture of waste and poor prioritisation that has held Nigeria back for decades.
Obi anchored his criticism on Nigeria’s poor record on the Human Development Index (HDI), noting that the country has remained in the low HDI category for 35 years, from 1990 to 2025.
“It is tragic that our leaders continue to prioritise waste, propaganda and corruption over meaningful development,” Obi said, adding that the reported lobbying expenditure typifies the misplaced priorities of successive governments.
He contrasted Nigeria’s stagnation with countries such as China and Indonesia, which he said moved from low to higher HDI categories through disciplined leadership and deliberate investment in people-focused development.
Obi further linked the $9 million spending to Nigeria’s dire healthcare situation, noting that the country has the lowest life expectancy globally and one of the highest maternal mortality rates.
According to him, the amount - estimated at about ₦14 billion - could have been used to fund critical healthcare infrastructure, including the capital budgets of major teaching hospitals across the six geopolitical zones.
“The resources are available; what is missing is the will to prioritise the lives and welfare of Nigerians,” Obi said.
He warned that Nigeria cannot continue to mask its internal failures with foreign lobbying, insisting that public funds must be directed toward tangible improvements in citizens’ lives rather than cosmetic image laundering abroad.
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