Peter Obi: Nigeria Not Poor, But Poorly Governed

Peter Obi says Nigeria has resources for basic needs, but poor governance and mismanagement continue to undermine development.

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has said Nigeria has sufficient resources to provide basic necessities for its citizens.

He, however, pointed out that poor governance and misplaced priorities continue to undermine national development.

Obi made the remarks while narrating an encounter with a young Nigerian nurse who was born and trained in the United States but recently visited Nigeria for the first time.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State Governor said the tragic road accident involving international boxer, Anthony Joshua’s friends in Ogun State during the yuletide period highlighted the country’s weak emergency response system.

He noted that the victims could have been rushed to hospital immediately if functional ambulances were available.

According to Obi, a standard ambulance costs about N150 million (approximately $100,000), yet Nigeria spent N39 billion to refurbish the National Conference Centre in Abuja and N21 billion on the Vice President’s residence.

“Those two projects alone, N60 billion could have provided about 400 brand-new ambulances, roughly 11 per state, including the FCT,” he wrote.