Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over the potential mismanagement of the $1.07 billion allocated to Nigeria’s primary healthcare sector in the 2025 budget.
He referenced past bizarre claims of public funds being lost to animals, warning that the funds must be properly accounted for and not fall victim to corruption.
Atiku stressed the need for transparency, urging the Federal Government to provide a detailed breakdown of how the money will be spent.
In a statement issued on February 9, 2025, Atiku expressed concern that the government has yet to outline specific infrastructure projects for the expenditure.
“We have read that the Federal Government has a plan to expend a whopping sum of $1.07 billion in the primary health sector. This amount is in addition to the N2.48 trillion, which had earlier been proposed for the health sector in the initial draft of the budget,” he said.
He also noted that most of the funds were sourced from foreign loans, making it essential for Nigerians to understand the repayment terms and implementation strategy.
READ ALSO: Top Police Officers In Showdown With IGP Over Retirement Scandal
Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of failing to deliver on its promises to improve healthcare, citing the continued underfunding of tertiary hospitals.
He described claims of improved infrastructure as misleading, stating that many teaching hospitals still lack basic amenities, including stable electricity supply.
“The failure of the Federal Government not to commit to a single physical infrastructure in expending the budgetary provision smacks of fraud,” he added.
The former Vice President further criticized the government’s response to cuts in international HIV/AIDS funding, calling the announced N5 billion intervention inadequate.
He warned that without proper oversight and legislative scrutiny, the health budget could become another case of misappropriation.
“If the Tinubu administration fails to provide a comprehensive framework to safeguard its purported huge investment in the health sector, it may be safe to conclude that this is another episode of the administration committing fraud in the name of public interest,” Atiku stated.
