Key Takeaways:
- Peter Obi condemns ₦7 trillion in alleged budget fraud, labeling Nigeria a “crime scene.”
- Fraudulent insertions surpass combined budgets for Education, Health, Agriculture, and Humanitarian Affairs.
- BudgIT Nigeria reports over 11,000 questionable projects amounting to ₦6.93 trillion in the 2025 budget.
- Obi links corruption to national issues: 20 million out-of-school children, malnutrition, and insecurity.
- Calls for urgent reforms to combat entrenched corruption and fiscal recklessness.
The Story of The Budget Fraud
In a fervent denunciation, Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has decried the revelation of ₦7 trillion in alleged fraudulent allocations within Nigeria’s 2025 national budget. Drawing from a report by civic-tech organization BudgIT Nigeria, Obi highlighted that over 11,000 questionable projects were inserted into the budget, amounting to ₦6.93 trillion.
Obi emphasized that this figure exceeds the combined allocations for the Ministries of Education (₦3.52 trillion), Health (₦2.48 trillion), Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (₦260 billion), and Agriculture and Food Security (₦636.08 billion), totaling ₦6.896 trillion. He lamented that such fiscal mismanagement undermines critical sectors vital for national development.
“The ₦7 trillion fraud is even greater than the ₦6.1 trillion allocated to national security—this, in a country battling terrorism on all fronts,” Obi noted, underscoring the dire implications of such corruption on Nigeria’s security apparatus.
Obi attributed the nation’s challenges, including nearly 20 million out-of-school children, malnourished populations, and underfunded agricultural and security sectors, to systemic corruption. He called for transparency, fiscal discipline, and strategic investment in critical sectors, asserting, “Until we end this brazen impunity, we will continue to starve the future while feeding corruption.
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Top Comments from X (Twitter):
@Chuks_Naija: “Peter Obi is right. How can we have such massive budget fraud and still expect progress?”
@AdaezeWrites: “₦7 trillion could build schools, hospitals, and feed millions. This is heartbreaking.”
@TheRealKemi: “Our leaders need to be held accountable. Enough is enough!”
@OluwaTosin: “This is why we can’t have nice things in Nigeria. Corruption is killing us.”
@NaijaObserver: “Kudos to BudgIT for exposing this. We need more transparency.”
@SeyiSpeaks: “Imagine what ₦7 trillion could do for our education sector. Smh.”
@Ngozi_Ugo: “Peter Obi always speaks the truth. We need more leaders like him.”
@AbdulRasheed: “This is a wake-up call. We must demand better governance.”
@FaithfulCitizen: “Corruption at this scale is a crime against the people.”
@EzeTheGreat: “Time for action, not just words. Let’s hold them accountable.”
Peter Obi’s condemnation of the ₦7 trillion budget fraud underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s governance. As revelations of fiscal mismanagement come to light, the call for systemic reforms becomes louder. Addressing these issues is crucial for the nation’s progress and the well-being of its citizens.
