For Prof. Pat Utomi, Nigeria’s path to prosperity will not be found in skyscrapers, super-highways or billion-dollar railways, but in the health and education of its people.
The Convener of the Big Tent Shadow Cabinet told NAN in Lagos that government’s obsession with “flashy projects” such as the Eko Atlantic City and a proposed $60 billion high-speed rail is leaving over 220 million poor Nigerians behind.
“Our people are dying young. Life expectancy is 62 years in Nigeria, compared to 74 globally. Maternal mortality and child deaths are among the highest in the world. How can we justify new presidential jets while health centres lack staff and equipment?” he asked.
Utomi stressed that rebuilding Nigeria’s 30,000 primary health centres could save millions of lives from preventable conditions such as malaria, neonatal disorders and road accidents, while boosting productivity and life expectancy.
Echoing his concerns, Dr. Adefoladeye Adebayo warned that the mass migration of doctors, poor health insurance practices and weak emergency response systems continue to cripple Nigeria’s health sector. She called for reforms that make patient care—not profit—the core of healthcare delivery.
