Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has slammed governors who spend on conference centres, government houses and lodges, guest houses, and fleets of official vehicles, instead of investing in human capital, education, and healthcare.

This was as he urged all levels of government to prioritize critical areas of development—particularly investment in health, education, and poverty alleviation.

"We must reassess what truly matters. The decisions we make—what we build, fund, and focus on—must align with the pressing needs of the people," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Just this month, the World Bank reported that, as of April 2025, the poverty rate among rural Nigerians has risen to over 75%, indicating widespread economic hardship across the country. The report also highlighted that 41.3% of Nigeria’s urban population now lives below the poverty line. This shows that poverty is no longer just a rural crisis—it has become a national emergency.

"In comparison, the World Bank reported that in 2018/2019, about 30.9% of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line.

"As of 2025, that figure has more than doubled instead of improving.

"These facts confirm that poverty in Nigeria has worsened significantly—and this is no coincidence.

"It is the direct result of years of misplaced priorities. Rather than investing in critical sectors, we have continued to prioritize wasteful spending on non-developmental projects such as conference centres, government houses and lodges, guest houses, and fleets of official vehicles—instead of investing in human capital, education, and healthcare, which are the true legacy projects capable of transforming a nation," he said.

Obi highlighted a need to redirect Nigeria's national focus and address the root causes of poverty.

He said Nigeria must expand access to quality education and healthcare, and support job creation by investing in and empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which are essential for lifting people out of poverty.

ASA