Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against mismanaging the $1.07 billion allocated to the health sector in the 2025 budget.

 

Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election, referenced past bizarre claims of public funds disappearing due to animals such as snakes, termites, and monkeys. He warned that such scandals must not plague the critical health sector.

 

In a statement he personally signed, Atiku called for stringent public audit and accountability measures to ensure the funds are used effectively. He also criticized the government for failing to provide a detailed breakdown of how the funds—largely sourced from foreign loans and international donors—will be spent.

 

“It will be immoral for the government not to provide extensive details of how the money allotted for this purpose will be dispensed,” Atiku stated. He further expressed concern that despite the massive allocation, there are no concrete plans for physical infrastructure development in the health sector, which, in his view, raises red flags about potential fraud.

 

He urged the government to ensure transparency and accountability, emphasizing that Nigerians deserve to know how these funds will be utilized, especially since they will bear the burden of repaying the loans.