Rehabilitate Existing Infrastructure Before Embarking on New Projects
I have consistently advised governments at all levels to prioritise rehabilitating existing infrastructure before embarking on new projects that may also end up abandoned or left unfinished. For expressing this position, I have often been criticised and called all sorts of names. Yet, it remains the most responsible approach to governance.
It is therefore noteworthy that President Bola Tinubu has now cautioned state governors against committing scarce public resources to constructing unnecessary flyovers in areas with little traffic while neglecting more pressing developmental needs.
The President is, in essence, saying what I have always maintained: government must prioritise projects that directly address the immediate needs of the people. I hope those ministers, officials, and supporters who have consistently attacked this position will now direct the same criticism at him.
However, this admonition must also apply to the Federal Government. There are several unrealistic and white-elephant projects being pursued by the current administration, even as much of our critical infrastructure remains in a state of disrepair. Given our present fiscal realities, priority should be given to rehabilitating and completing existing infrastructure rather than embarking on expensive new projects with limited immediate impact.
Across Nigeria, many of our major highways linking commercial centres and food-producing communities have deteriorated into death traps. Neglecting these critical roads while pursuing prestige projects is neither economically prudent nor people-centred.
This philosophy guided my administration as Governor of Anambra State. I prioritised completing viable projects initiated by my predecessors before embarking on new ones. Government is a continuum, and development should never be measured by who starts a project, but by whether it is completed and serves the people.
Leadership is about making the right choices: fixing what is broken, completing what has already been started, and investing limited public resources where they will have the greatest impact on the greatest number of people.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Hunger and the Insensitivity of Mr. President
I watched with deep concern the statement made by President Bola Tinubu to the Catholic Bishops who visited his office, that there has always been hunger in Nigeria, even before he was born.
While it is true that hunger has been a part of human life and has existed in our country for decades, such a statement appears insensitive to the plight of the millions of Nigerians who face worsening economic hardship today. More importantly, we must focus on the facts and the measurable outcomes of governance.
Before the present administration assumed office in 2023, an estimated 17 million Nigerians were facing acute food insecurity, primarily caused by insecurity, armed conflict, widespread banditry, and devastating floods. Today, less than three years later, that number has risen to about 35 million Nigerians. Instead of improving the situation, the crisis has worsened significantly under the current administration.
The same trend is evident in poverty. Before this government took office in 2023, Nigeria’s extreme poverty was estimated at 87 million people. Current projections suggest that this number is approaching 140 million people, making Nigeria home to the largest population of people living in extreme poverty anywhere in the world.
No one disputes that this administration inherited serious challenges. However, leadership is measured not by the challenges inherited but by the results achieved. The government must honestly acknowledge that its response has fallen far short of what the situation demanded, with millions more Nigerians pushed deeper into poverty and hunger.
The combination of persistent insecurity, poor economic management, fiscal indiscipline, wasteful public expenditure, and inadequate investment in productive sectors has compounded the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
A responsible government must prioritise investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and small businesses while pursuing policies that create jobs, expand production, and lift people out of poverty. That remains my commitment to the Nigerian people.
A New Nigeria is Possible. PO
There is no country on earth where a child will be sent to prison because they scored an F in an exam.
But every day, people lose their freedom, destroy their futures, or even lose their lives because of poor character, lack of discipline, greed, dishonesty, or violence.
Yet many parents panic over grades and ignore character.
If your child leaves school with integrity, discipline, empathy, resilience, and the ability to do the right thing even when nobody is watching, you’ve already won.
Academics can open doors.
Character determines what happens after those doors open.
The greatest product of any school should not be straight A’s.
It should be responsible human beings.
What’s your view?
The new tax law will be implemented completely by next year. Be ready to be losing your hard-earned money to fund their luxurious life.
Voting Tinubu out is the only remedy!
Seun: Kwankwaso is a big asset to you, and you believe that he can help you win the election.
Peter Obi: Don't say Kwankwaso is an asset to me; he's an asset to Nigeria. He believes in education and in pulling people out of poverty; that's why Nigeria needs both of us.
WISDOM!
I will be running another experiment.
The top 40 students in Enugu from the last Olympiad will engage in a 3-week bootcamp to learn some critical skills with precision.
They will learn how to build drones from the ground up, auto mechanics, precision welding, electrical work, and basic programming.
Some experts will fly into Enugu for the period to train them on these skills. It will run from August 10 to August 30.
If this works as planned, then it will give us stronger validation for the skill development program we are currently designing.
Don’t be tired of my experiments. Whatever works, we scale quickly.
I received a phone call from Mr Peter Obi and am deeply grateful for the words of encouragement from His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, in appreciation of our 65 Free Adenotonsillectomy and ENT Surgery Initiative, organized to mark his birthday and give back to our country, Nigeria.
As of today, we have screened over 50 patients, categorizing them into surgical and non-surgical cases while also managing other medical conditions where necessary.
What has been particularly inspiring is that beneficiaries have come not only from different parts of Lagos but also from Benin, Awka, Enugu, and Owerri. This reminds us that disease knows no boundaries, and quality healthcare should be accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live.
Surgeries for the selected patients will commence this week, and beneficiaries will be contacted through the phone number previously used to reach them.
Tomorrow is the final day of the free screening, which ends at 4:00 p.m.
📍 Venue: Infirmorium Catholic Hospital, No. 1 Olufemi Street, off Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos.
My sincere appreciation to everyone who has supported this initiative. Together, we are restoring health and giving hope, one patient at a time.
Dr. Adefolaseye Adebomi Adebayo
ENT Surgeon
The Mission Hospital That Keeps Hope Alive
I left Enugu early this morning for Ogoja/Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.
My first stop was the Catholic Maternity Hospital, Moniaya, Ogoja.
This decades-old facility remains virtually the only maternity hospital serving the entire Ogoja area.
Despite its age and the enormous responsibility it bears, it continues to provide care for thousands of women and newborns with limited resources.
Nigeria still ranks among the countries with the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world, despite having overtaken countries such as China and India, whose populations are several times larger than ours. This is not just a statistic; it represents mothers, babies, and families whose lives are forever changed by preventable tragedies.
The hospital also operates a Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre, providing vital healthcare services that are becoming increasingly rare.
To support their commendable work, I made a token donation of ₦10 million and assured them of my continued partnership.
I urge governments at all levels, the private sector, and well-meaning Nigerians to support institutions like this, run by voluntary and faith-based organisations. Investing in healthcare and education is investing in our future. -PO
The atrocities being committed by Nigerian security forces in the South East will be spoken about one day.
Extrajudicial kïllings
Disappearances
Placing the whole region under military siege while rehabilitating terrorists in the North
Arresting men and tagging them IPOB.
This morning, we conducted our first experiment in Abor Village, Enugu State.
Every child in this hall is from the village.
We gathered them together and delivered a world-class Mathematics lesson designed to build the strong foundations they need to compete confidently with students from the best private schools in the 2027 South East Maths & Science Olympiad.
The most remarkable part?
After the lesson, many of the children said they never knew Mathematics could be this easy. Several of them told us it was the best lesson they had ever attended.
That alone says a lot about the learning gap we need to close.
This is about more than preparing for an Olympiad.
It is about eliminating the learning inequality between children born into privilege and those born into underserved communities.
On Monday, we’ll run the next experiment in Imo State. If the results are equally promising, we’ll begin developing a model that can be replicated across villages throughout the South East.
I’m beginning to believe that we don’t have an intelligence problem, we have an access problem. When children are exposed to world-class teaching, regardless of where they live, they rise to the occasion.
If this model works at scale, it could fundamentally change how we democratize learning in Africa.
We appreciate TN Onodingene Abor ICT Center, for making their facilities free for every child.
Tomorrow and Monday, we’re running an experiment that could change education in remote and low-income areas in Africa.
We’re bringing together about 60 children from a rural community in Enugu and about 150 in IMO to watch world-class mathematics lessons in preparation for the 2027 South East Maths Olympiad.
I want to gauge the impact.
If it works, we’ll replicate it across communities and use village town halls as learning centres during holidays and after school.
My goal isn’t just to prepare students for the Olympiad.
My goal is to close learning inequality.
Because talent is everywhere. Access isn’t.
I’ll share the results publicly. The good, the bad, and everything we learn, so anyone can copy, improve, and scale the idea.
The Fulfilment of Investing in Education
I was delighted to attend the maiden graduation ceremony of Millennium College of Nursing Sciences, Awka, an achievement that reflects the power of vision, commitment, and investment in human capital.
What gave me the greatest joy and fulfilment was learning from the Provost, Mrs Chisom C. Ezulike, that the initial support I provided served as the seed funding enabling the institution to commence operations seamlessly.
I was equally pleased to learn that my subsequent interventions significantly contributed to making today’s historic graduation possible. There is no greater satisfaction than seeing a small act of support blossom into an institution that is transforming lives and strengthening our healthcare system.
Nothing is more fulfilling than witnessing a modest investment in education grow into a thriving institution. Today, that same institution has graduated 116 pioneer students, who achieved a remarkable 100% success rate in the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Professional Examination. This serves as yet another reminder that investments in education and healthcare are the most reliable investments in our nation's future.
I commend the pioneer graduating Class of 2025 and extend my congratulations to the Proprietor, management, faculty, benefactors, and everyone whose dedication and sacrifices have made this notable milestone possible.
Let us continue to invest in education, healthcare, and human capital development, for they remain the most assured paths to national progress and sustainable development.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
I struggle to understand public officials who proudly celebrate sending their children abroad while the schools they oversee are collapsing.
It's not about whether they can afford it. They have every right to spend their money however they choose.
It's about emotional intelligence and leadership.
Publicly celebrating your escape from a system you are responsible for fixing sends the wrong message to millions of families who have no such option.
The goal of public service shouldn't be to build an exit plan for your own children.
It should be to build a country where every parent's child has access to an education so good that leaving becomes a choice, not a necessity.
That's the standard we should demand.
Strengthening Democracy Through Inclusive Voter Registration
Yesterday, after attending the graduation ceremony of the Millennium College of Nursing Sciences in Awka, I visited an INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) Centre in Enugu.
I was pleased to witness an orderly and well-organised registration process. I also met a number of people patiently queuing to register, demonstrating their commitment to participating in our democracy. I commend the INEC staff for their dedication and professionalism.
I, however, urge INEC to extend the Continuous Voter Registration exercise to at least 90 days before the General Elections to give more eligible Nigerians the opportunity to register and participate in the electoral process.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
MY REMARKS ON THE ENUGU AIR RUNWAY EXCURSION AT BENIN AIRPORT
I received, with profound relief, the news of the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft during its landing at Benin Airport today.
First, I join all Nigerians in expressing heartfelt gratitude to God Almighty that all 68 passengers and crew members on board disembarked safely, with no injuries or casualties recorded. The safety of human lives must always remain our highest priority.
I commend the pilot, the flight crew, and the airport emergency response teams at Benin Airport for their swift and professional handling of the situation, which averted what could have been a major tragedy. Their calmness and decisiveness under pressure are deeply commendable.
While we celebrate this safe outcome, the incident serves as a sober reminder of the critical need for strict adherence to aviation safety protocols, rigorous routine maintenance, and continuous infrastructure upgrades across our airports nationwide.
I urge the relevant regulatory and investigative bodies—particularly the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)—to conduct a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation into the root cause of this incident.
Learning from occurrences such as this is essential to strengthening public confidence in our aviation sector and ensuring that our skies remain consistently safe.
May God continue to guide and protect all travellers across our nation. – PO
Earlier today, I met with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Dr Richard Montgomery. We had a thoughtful discussion on the state of our democracy, the economy, the importance of strengthening our institutions, and the need to ensure that our elections remain free, fair, credible, and truly reflective of the will of the Nigerian people.
As Dr Montgomery prepares to conclude his diplomatic assignment in Nigeria next month, I thanked him for his service and for the role he has played in strengthening the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. His time in Nigeria has been marked by constructive engagement and support for our democratic and economic development.
I wished him well as he prepares for his next assignment and thanked him for the friendship and cooperation he has extended to Nigeria throughout his tenure. I look forward to seeing the strong relationship between our two countries continue to grow.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
I will take one month break after this PVC registration & return for campaign sensitization.
I have already mapped out my calendar in each Senatorial district.
Everyone must know the VALUE of their VOTE!!!
Peter Obi Must Win!
Yesterday, we commissioned the second Smart School in Abia State at Umuomaiukwu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, alongside our Special Guest of Honour, renowned writer, scholar, and poet, Prof. Okey Ndibe.
I reminded our pupils that, with world-class learning facilities now available to them free of charge, they have every opportunity to excel. I encouraged them to embrace hard work, ask questions, remain curious, and strive for excellence—assuring them that outstanding performance will be rewarded with local and international scholarship opportunities, as well as other incentives.
Our Smart Schools are strategic investments in the future of our children and our State. Equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, adaptive learning technologies, renewable energy, 24-hour internet connectivity, CCTV surveillance, and a dedicated wellness room for girls, these schools are designed to prepare our children for a rapidly changing world.
I also warned against the vandalisation of public facilities. Every Abian has a responsibility to protect these investments, and anyone found destroying government property will face the full weight of the law.
I appreciate Prof. Okey Ndibe for his inspiring remarks and kind words of encouragement. I also thank Hon. Collins Iheonunekwu, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, Mrs. Lydia Ezihe Onuoha, and Chief Mrs. Orieji Okwara-Emele of Blue Giraffe for their contributions and steadfast support for our education transformation agenda.
Education remains our greatest investment. Through these Smart Schools, we are nurturing a new generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders who will shape a brighter future for Abia State.