Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over the transparency and accountability of the $1.07 billion allocated to Nigeria’s primary healthcare sector in the 2025 budget, warning against the mismanagement of public funds.
In a statement on Friday, Atiku referenced past controversial incidents where public funds were allegedly lost under bizarre circumstances, including claims that snakes, termites, and monkeys consumed government money. He insisted that such unexplained losses must not happen with the crucial healthcare budget.
“With dwindling resources and reduced international support for our healthcare system, every kobo allocated to the sector must be fully accounted for,” Atiku stated.
He criticized the Federal Government for failing to provide a detailed plan on how the $1.07 billion—largely sourced from foreign loans and international donors—will be spent. Atiku described the lack of transparency as “immoral” and stressed that Nigerians have the right to know how these funds will be utilized, especially given that the country will be responsible for repaying the loans.
“We have read that the Federal Government plans to spend a whopping $1.07 billion on the primary health sector, in addition to the N2.48 trillion already proposed in the initial budget draft. It is troubling that this additional funding is largely obtained through foreign loans, yet there is no clear explanation of how it will be utilized,” he said.
The former vice president further criticized the Tinubu administration for not committing to any specific physical infrastructure projects in the health sector. He expressed skepticism over the government’s explanation that the funds will be used to improve governance in healthcare, recruit and train healthcare workers, and enhance primary healthcare services.
“For an administration with a history of questionable humanitarian interventions, Nigerians cannot afford to accept a budgetary provision that lacks proper accountability mechanisms,” Atiku said.
He also questioned the government’s claims of improvements in tertiary healthcare, arguing that many teaching hospitals across the country still suffer from a lack of essential facilities, including stable electricity.
“If the Tinubu administration truly prioritizes the health of Nigerians, it must provide a clear framework on how these funds will be used to tackle major diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS,” he added.
Atiku also criticized the government’s response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to cut American aid for HIV/AIDS treatment in Nigeria, calling the administration’s allocation of N5 billion to address the shortfall “grossly inadequate.”
He warned that unless the health sector budget is subjected to strict oversight, including scrutiny by the National Assembly, it risks becoming another case of financial mismanagement disguised as public interest.
