Peter Obi Slams N6bn National Assembly Car Park Amid Neglect of Health Institutions
Written By Okafor Joseph July 18, 2025
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the Federal Government over its failure to prioritize the nation’s health sector, lamenting the dilapidated state of health institutions despite massive spending on non-essential projects.
Obi made the remarks on Friday during an unannounced visit to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State. The visit followed a request for financial assistance from the faculty’s re-accreditation fundraising committee, which reached out to Obi for support.
Upon confirming the authenticity of the request, the former Anambra State governor not only visited the students but also donated a cheque of N15 million to support the re-accreditation process. The donation was presented to the chairman of the committee, Boston Chukwuemeka (Jnr), and the president of the University of Nigeria Dental Students Association, Comrade Daniel Ogba.
Speaking during the visit, Obi decried the leadership failures that have left Nigeria’s critical health infrastructure in a state of decay. He said, “Health is the most important aspect of human development, yet our government continues to ignore the sector.”
He cited a recent example where N6 billion was spent on constructing a car park for lawmakers at the National Assembly, while vital institutions like UNTH are left without basic facilities. “It is a clear case of misplaced priorities,” Obi lamented.
He further told the students: “I was once like you here at UNN. During my time, President Shehu Shagari visited and listened to students’ concerns. Leaders then were more accessible and accountable. Today, that kind of leadership is rare.”
Obi, an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and also a graduate of prestigious international institutions like Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge, said he understands the importance of functional infrastructure in learning environments.
He pledged to rally more well-meaning Nigerians to support the institution’s re-accreditation and urged students to stay resilient despite the tough conditions they face.
Obi’s visit comes amid growing public frustration over underfunded hospitals, poor access to healthcare, and inadequate support for Nigeria’s medical training institutions, many of which are on the brink of collapse due to years of neglect.Published by SpringnewsNG Media Limited
