Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has denounced the alleged fraudulent insertions in Nigeria’s 2025 national budget, labeling the situation as further evidence that the nation is being operated like a ‘crime scene.’
Obi’s response comes in the wake of a report by BudgIT Nigeria, a civic tech organization, which disclosed that over 11,000 dubious projects, totaling ₦6.93 trillion, were embedded in the budget by National Assembly members. BudgIT characterized the situation as part of a “deeply entrenched culture of exploitation and abuse,” allegedly driven by the legislature’s leadership.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas—both from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—currently oversee the two legislative chambers.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, May 21, Obi declared, “Nigeria remains a relentless scene of corruption. I have consistently maintained that for this country to make progress, Nigeria must cease to function as a crime scene and be repositioned for genuine development.”
“This entrenched corruption—persistent and deeply rooted—must be nipped in the bud if there is to be any meaningful turnaround,” he added.
Referencing BudgIT’s report, Obi claimed that the ₦7 trillion identified in questionable allocations likely represents only a portion of the total funds misappropriated.
“These findings are deeply troubling and confirm my long-held position that we have turned our country into a crime scene,” he stated.
“We must urgently and aggressively combat corruption, misappropriation, and fiscal recklessness in order to manage our resources effectively and efficiently, and invest in critical areas of development: health, education, and lifting our people out of poverty.”
He linked the nation’s educational challenges, inadequate healthcare system, widespread hunger, and limited agricultural investment to the rampant corruption perpetuated by political leaders.
“This brazen impunity by our leaders is precisely why the country cannot invest adequately in education—hence the existence of nearly 20 million out-of-school children,” he stated.
“These glaring acts of corruption reinforce my position: Nigeria has been reduced to a crime scene.”
“We must confront this corruption, misappropriation, and fiscal recklessness with unwavering resolve. Our national resources must be transparently managed and strategically invested in key sectors—health, education, and poverty alleviation—to secure a better future for our people. We must turn this nation around,” the former Anambra State Governor said.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
