“2 Dangerous Health Records in Just 1 Year,” Peter Obi Raises Alarm over Nigeria’s Rankings
- Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has expressed dissatisfaction over Nigeria's current health crisis
- He highlighted two dangerous global health records Nigeria is holding, further explaining the UN's report that stated, “if you live in Nigeria, you are simply waiting to die”
- Obi likened the situation to that of war-torn countries like Ukraine and South Sudan, and attributed it to "poor governance and a failing health system"
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
Peter Obi, the flagbearer of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, has decried Nigeria’s worsening health indices.
Source: Facebook
Nigeria’s health rankings: Peter Obi fumes
Obi, in a post shared on his X page on Monday, September 1, cited two reports that paint a grim picture of the nation’s healthcare system.
According to Obi, Nigeria now holds two of the most dangerous global health records within a single year, a situation he described as a “double tragedy” and a stark reflection of poor governance.
Meanwhile, following the United Nations World Population Prospects 2025 Report, Nigeria now has the lowest life expectancy globally, averaging just 54.6 years. The report warned bluntly that “if you live in Nigeria, you are simply waiting to die.”
In addition, a separate report highlighted Nigeria as the worst country in the world to give birth, with a maternal death occurring every seven minutes.
Source: Facebook
Nigeria's health faces double tragedy - Obi
But on Monday, Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, referenced another report ranking Nigeria as the worst country in the world to give birth, with one maternal death occurring every seven minutes.
He highlighted the devastating impact of this reality, noting that countless families continue to suffer the loss of mothers during childbirth, with some tragedies claiming both mother and child.
"Sadly, our country, Nigeria, today holds two of the most dangerous health records in the world within just one year—a double tragedy, considering that health is one of the most critical measures of development.
Speaking further, Peter Obi stressed that these figures are not mere statistics but represent the harsh realities faced by millions of Nigerians.
He warned that despite the country not being at war, its life expectancy has fallen below that of war-torn nations like Ukraine and South Sudan.
"These reports are not just statistics—they reflect the daily experience of Nigerian life. Though Nigeria is not officially at war, our life expectancy is now worse than that of war-torn countries like Ukraine and South Sudan, all because of poor governance and a failing health system.
"These grim realities expose misplaced priorities, bad governance, and the failure to invest in one of the most vital sectors of development: the health and well-being of our citizens. We must urgently prioritise healthcare as a cornerstone of building our dear nation."
Read more about Peter Obi here:
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- Peter Obi urged to leave Labour Party ahead of 2027 election, reason emerges
Obi donates N15m to nursing, Quranic schools
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Peter Obi donated N15 million to Malikiya College of Nursing Sciences and Intisharu Taufizul Quranic School in Bauchi state.
Obi made the donations to the two schools during a visit to the state on Friday, August 8.
Speaking at the Malikiya College of Nursing Sciences, the presidential hopeful said that nurses have been playing a vital role in the country’s health sector.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
