Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized the Federal Government over reports that it spent $9 million on foreign lobbying, describing the move as a reflection of Nigeria’s misplaced priorities amid worsening development outcomes.

In a statement shared on X on Friday, Obi said the reported expenditure symbolises a broader pattern of waste, poor prioritisation, and governance failures that continue to undermine national progress.

While noting that the $9 million figure has drawn public attention, Obi argued that it represents only a fraction of deeper systemic inefficiencies affecting key social and economic indicators.

“It is both tragic and concerning that our leaders continue to prioritise waste, corruption, propaganda, lies, and negative aspects of development over positive initiatives,” he said.

Obi anchored his criticism on Nigeria’s long-standing performance on the Human Development Index (HDI), noting that the country has remained in the low category for 35 years, from 1990 to 2025, while countries such as China and Indonesia have advanced to higher development levels through deliberate policy choices.

He further highlighted Nigeria’s underperformance in life expectancy, education, and per capita income, citing capital allocations to federal teaching hospitals in the 2024 budget as evidence of misaligned spending priorities.

“At a time of rising poverty and strained public services, every naira of taxpayers’ money should serve the Nigerian people,” Obi said.

The comments come amid reports that the Federal Government is spending about $750,000 monthly on a U.S. lobbying firm, fueling public debate over government spending and development priorities.

Source: Nairametrics