Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly condemned what he described as "₦7 trillion in questionable projects" allegedly inserted into Nigeria's 2025 national budget, following revelations by fiscal transparency organization BudgIT.

In a statement released on Monday, Obi characterized Nigeria as "a relentless scene of corruption" and warned that the country must address this systemic issue to achieve meaningful development.

"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," Obi stated.

Budget Irregularities Exceed Key Ministry Allocations

According to Obi, the ₦7 trillion allegedly fraudulently inserted into the budget exceeds the combined allocations for critical ministries essential to national development. He provided a breakdown showing that the Education Ministry received ₦3.52 trillion, Health Ministry ₦2.48 trillion, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry ₦260 billion, and Agriculture and Food Security Ministry ₦636.08 billion.

"Combined, these four ministries were allocated ₦6.896 trillion—an already inflated amount—yet still less than the ₦7 trillion dubiously inserted into the budget," Obi noted.

He further highlighted that the questionable amount also exceeds the ₦6.1 trillion allocated to national security, despite Nigeria being "among the most terrorised nations in the world."

Impact on National Development

The former Anambra State governor linked these alleged budgetary irregularities to Nigeria's persistent development challenges, including the nearly 20 million out-of-school children, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and widespread hunger.

"This brazen impunity by our leaders is precisely why the country cannot invest adequately in education. It is the same corruption that has crippled primary healthcare, resulting in alarming levels of malnourished children," he said.

Obi called for urgent action to combat corruption, misappropriation, and fiscal recklessness, emphasizing the need for transparent management of national resources and strategic investments in key development sectors.

"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," he concluded.

The federal government has yet to respond to these allegations of budget padding as of press time.