The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has renewed his call for a total overhaul of Nigeria’s healthcare system, describing it as one of the country’s most neglected yet essential sectors.
Obi made this appeal on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the College of Nursing, Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Ibadan, where he met with staff and students of the institution.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the former Anambra State governor emphasized the urgent need for structural reforms to rebuild the nation’s health sector, citing years of inadequate investment, decaying infrastructure, and the alarming rate of medical brain drain as major obstacles to progress.
He lamented that persistent government neglect has deepened poverty, widened inequality, and destroyed citizens’ confidence in public institutions meant to protect their health and 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 function effectively, and where medical workers are adequately motivated,” he stressed.
The Labour Party flag bearer stated that meaningful economic development cannot be achieved without prioritising the health and education of citizens, adding that Nigeria’s misplaced priorities over the years have hindered real progress.
“We have spent years celebrating the wrong things,” Obi declared.
“When we invest in people, especially in the health and education sectors, we are building the true foundation for national development,” he added.
Obi urged the federal government to adopt comprehensive policy reforms aimed at retaining skilled medical professionals and making Nigerian hospitals attractive workplaces instead of transit points for those seeking to relocate abroad.
“Government should see healthcare as a security issue because a sick nation cannot defend itself or compete globally,” he said.
As part of his ongoing contributions to strengthening health and education, Obi announced a ₦10 million donation to the College of Nursing, Oluyoro Catholic Hospital to support facility upgrades and enhance the training of nurses.
“This ₦10 million donation is not about politics,” he explained.
“I have been going around the country contributing to educational and health institutions because these are the foundations upon which national development is built,” he added.
The former governor said his interventions were driven by a personal conviction to give back to society and inspire other privileged Nigerians to support schools and hospitals.
“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 of government to adopt sustainable long-term policies in the health sector rather than short-term political gestures that fail to produce lasting results.
“What we need is consistency in policy, not politics,” Obi emphasized.
“Healthcare planning should not end with a change of government. We must see it as a continuous national project,” he added.
Obi reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to advocating reforms that place citizens’ welfare at the centre of governance and national development, stressing that Nigeria’s progress depends on the health and productivity of its people.