Don’t let snakes, termites swallow $1.07BN health budget, Atiku warns FG

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has warned the Federal Government, urging it to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilization of the $1.07 billion allocated for the health sector in the 2025 Budget.

In a statement released on Sunday, Atiku expressed concerns that the government’s lack of comprehensive information on how the funds will be spent may lead to another episode of fraud.

“We have read that the Federal Government has a plan to expend a whopping sum of $1.07 billion in the primary health sector. This amount is in addition to the N2.48 trillion, which had earlier been proposed for the health sector in the initial draft of the budget,” Atiku said.

He noted that the government’s failure to provide a clear framework for the expenditure of these funds, sourced mainly through foreign loans and international donor agencies, raises suspicions about its intentions.

Atiku warned that the government’s history of “alternative truths” regarding investments in social infrastructure does not inspire confidence in its ability to manage public funds transparently.

The former Vice President emphasized that Nigerians deserve to know the details of these loans and how the funds will be utilized, particularly in addressing major diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS treatment in the primary health sector.

He urged the government to prioritize transparency and accountability, saying that anything less may lead to the funds being squandered or diverted.

Atiku’s warning comes amidst concerns about the government’s management of public funds, with previous instances of bizarre claims about animals swallowing public funds.