Posted on: Sat 21-06-2025

Nigeria stands at a critical juncture, grappling with revelations that could redefine its future—especially in the health sector. Peter Obi, a prominent political figure, recently took to X to spotlight a Senate audit uncovering a staggering 210 trillion in financial irregularities within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from 2017 to 2023. This figure, dwarfing the nation’s total national budget of 88 trillion over the same period, raises urgent questions about the diversion of resources that could have transformed Nigeria’s ailing healthcare system.

The audit details 103 trillion in "accrued expenses" and 107 trillion in unaccounted "receivables," with no documentation to justify these sums. For a country where millions struggle to access basic healthcare—where maternal mortality rates hover around 512 per 100,000 live births (WHO, 2023) and only 4-5% of federal expenditure is allocated to health—this is more than a financial scandal. It is a direct assault on the well-being of Nigerians. The misappropriation of such vast funds, as Obi notes, represents a "criminal institutionalized betrayal" that has left healthcare infrastructure crumbling, hospitals understaffed, and essential medicines scarce.

This is not a new phenomenon. A 2015 PwC audit revealed 1.48 billion (approximately 600 billion at the time) in unremitted revenues from the oil sector, a precursor to the current 210 trillion discrepancy. These recurring financial leaks mirror the findings of a 2023 International Budget Partnership report, which highlighted that Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health underspent its budget by 31% in 2018 and 47% in 2021, despite increased allocations. The result? Delayed procurement of medical supplies, dilapidated facilities, and a healthcare system unable to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health.

Now lets consider the implications: 210 trillion could have funded over 1,000 state-of-the-art hospitals, each equipped with modern diagnostic tools and staffed by adequately paid healthcare workers. It could have ensured universal access to vaccines, reduced the 20% neonatal mortality rate (UNICEF, 2024), and addressed the brain drain of doctors and nurses seeking better opportunities abroad. Instead, frontline health workers, as noted in a 2025 PMC study on health sector corruption, are often complicit in petty corruption due to poor pay and resource scarcity—symptoms of a larger systemic failure rooted in the mismanagement of oil revenues.

The 2025 Vanguard for Probity and Accountability report echoes Obi’s call for accountability, urging investigations into these unaccounted funds. For the medical community, this is a rallying cry. Healthcare professionals must advocate for transparent allocation of resources, pushing for a percentage of recovered funds to be reinvested into health infrastructure, training, and research. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and other stakeholders could lead this charge, demanding that future budgets prioritize healthcare over opaque "receivables."

Peter Obi’s assertion that "a new Nigeria is POssible" resonates deeply within the medical context. It is possible if corruption is dismantled, and if the 210 trillion scandal becomes a turning point rather than another forgotten headline. As doctors, nurses, and public health experts, we must hold leaders accountable, ensuring that Nigeria’s wealth—derived largely from oil—translates into a robust health system where no child dies of preventable diseases, and no mother fears childbirth.

The time to act is now,  Let this scandal be the catalyst for a healthier, more equitable Nigeria.

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