Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over the large number of delegates Nigeria sends to international functions, describing it as a misplaced priority given the country’s socioeconomic challenges.

In a post on his verified X handle on Saturday, Obi highlighted that about 150 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty, struggling daily with food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, and limited access to basic services.

Obi argued that Nigeria’s participation on the global stage should reflect responsible leadership that prioritizes the welfare of its citizens while demonstrating the nation’s capacity to engage meaningfully in international affairs, including climate action.

He specifically criticized Nigeria’s delegation to COP30, which numbered 749 delegates, nearly matching China’s 789, despite stark differences in development indicators:

• Life expectancy: Nigeria 54 years vs. China 79 years
• GDP: Nigeria ~$200 billion vs. China $18.74 trillion
• GDP per capita: Nigeria <10% of China’s
• Multidimensional poverty: Nigeria 63% (~150 million people) vs. China 3.9%

Obi wrote:

“While Nigeria needs a strong voice in global climate discussions, this spectacle comes at a heavy cost to our people. The human and financial resources expended on hundreds of officials travelling abroad could instead be directed toward urgent social investments at home, improving healthcare, education, and living conditions to lift our people out of poverty.”

The former Anambra State governor’s remarks underscore the debate over government spending priorities, calling for a re-evaluation of resource allocation to better address the nation’s urgent domestic needs.