Peter Obi Demands Comprehensive Overhaul Of Nigeria’s Health Sector
•By KAZEEM OYENIYI
IBADAN – THE 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has called for a total overhaul of Nigeria’s health sector, describing it as one of the most neglected yet critical pillars of the nation’s development.
Obi made the call on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the College of Nursing, Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Ibadan, where he emphasised the urgent need for reforms to revitalise the country’s healthcare system.
Speaking with staff and students of the institution, the former Anambra State governor decried the poor state of the sector, citing inadequate investment in human capital, decaying infrastructure, and the massive exodus of medical professionals in search of better opportunities abroad.
He lamented that the persistent neglect of healthcare had deepened poverty, widened inequality, and eroded citizens’ confidence in public institutions meant to safeguard their well-being.
“You cannot talk about economic growth when your people are not healthy,” Obi said. “A productive nation is one where its citizens have access to quality healthcare, where hospitals are functional, and where medical workers are adequately motivated.”
The LP standard bearer stressed that meaningful economic progress cannot be achieved without prioritising citizens’ health and education, adding that Nigeria’s development efforts had been misplaced over the years.
“We have spent years celebrating the wrong things. When we invest in people, especially in the health and education sectors, we are building the real foundation for national progress. Unfortunately, our priorities have been wrong for too long,” he added.
Obi called for policy reforms that would retain skilled medical personnel and make Nigerian hospitals attractive workplaces rather than transit points for professionals planning to relocate abroad.
“Government should see healthcare as a security issue because a sick nation cannot defend itself or compete globally,” he noted.
As part of his contribution to improving the sector, Obi announced a donation of ₦10 million to the College of Nursing, Oluyoro Catholic Hospital. He explained that the gesture was aimed at enhancing teaching and learning facilities, supporting the training of nurses, and improving the overall learning environment.
“This ₦10 million donation is not about politics,” he stated. “I have been going around the country contributing to educational and health institutions because these are the foundations upon which national development is built.”
Obi said his interventions were driven by a deep sense of responsibility to give back to society and to inspire others to do the same.
“If every privileged Nigerian supports a school, a hospital, or a training institution, our country will be in a far better state than it is today,” he remarked.
He also urged leaders at all levels to adopt long-term, sustainable policies in the health sector rather than short-term political gestures.
“What we need is consistency in policy, not politics. Healthcare planning should not end with a change of government. We must see it as a continuous national project,” Obi asserted.
He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to advocating reforms that place citizens’ welfare at the centre of governance and national development.