By Adenike Lawal
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over the $1.07 billion earmarked for Nigeria’s health sector in the 2025 budget, warning that it must not suffer the same fate as public funds allegedly swallowed by snakes, termites, and monkeys in past scandals.
Atiku criticized the lack of transparency in the Federal Government’s health sector funding, questioning how the funds—largely sourced from foreign loans and international donors—will be spent.
He insisted that Nigerians deserve a clear and accountable breakdown of expenditures, particularly given the government’s poor track record in social infrastructure investment.
He also condemned the administration’s failure to commit to any physical health infrastructure, arguing that vague promises about governance improvements and workforce training raise red flags.
Given Nigeria’s persistent health challenges—including malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS—he urged the government to prove its commitment to healthcare by providing a detailed spending plan.
Atiku warned that unless the Tinubu administration ensures full transparency, public audits, and National Assembly scrutiny, this budgetary allocation risks becoming yet another case of mismanaged public funds disguised as policy investment.
