₦142bn for bus terminals is not governance — Peter Obi slams FG

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has faulted the Federal Government’s approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of modern bus terminals across the six geopolitical zones, branding the move as another case of misplaced priorities.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had earlier approved the ₦142 billion project, saying it was aimed at modernising transport infrastructure and improving connectivity.

However, Obi insisted that investment in healthcare and other critical sectors must take precedence over projects such as bus terminals, warning that Nigeria’s development would continue to falter without a proper sense of priority.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday and titled “₦142 Billion for Bus Terminals”, Obi said the decision reflects poor leadership and a lack of competence in managing the country’s scarce resources.

“The difference between the success and failure of development in any nation is how you prioritise your scarce resources. The recent announcement that a sum of ₦142 billion has been approved by the Federal Government for the construction of one bus terminal in each of our six geopolitical zones further affirms the lack of competence, lack of focus and poor leadership,” Obi said.

Obi contrasted the allocation with the health sector’s funding, stressing that the combined budget for all teaching hospitals and federal psychiatric centres nationwide is less than ₦100 billion in the 2024 budget.

“This is disturbing, considering that health is one of the most critical areas of development, which is deteriorating and remains grossly underfunded. WHO recently reported that over 20 million Nigerians are living with mental health issues. This is not only a misplaced priority but a tragic irony of our country. This is not governance,” he added.

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