The presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi has reiterated his longstanding position that governments at all levels should prioritise the rehabilitation and completion of existing infrastructure before embarking on new projects that may eventually be abandoned or left unfinished.
In a statement released on Saturday, Obi said he had consistently advocated this approach throughout his public service career, arguing that it represents a more responsible and sustainable model of governance. According to him, the primary duty of government is to ensure that scarce public resources are directed towards projects that immediately improve the lives of citizens.
“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,” Obi stated.
He noted that his position had often attracted criticism from political opponents and government supporters, but maintained that prudence in public expenditure remains essential, especially in a period of economic difficulty.
“For expressing this position, I have often been criticised and called all sorts of names. Yet, it remains the most responsible approach to governance,” he said.
Obi said it was significant that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently cautioned state governors against committing scarce public funds to constructing flyovers in areas with little traffic while more urgent developmental needs remain unattended to.
According to the former Anambra State governor, the President’s warning effectively reinforces the principle he has advocated for years — that governments should focus on projects that directly address the immediate needs of the people.
“The President is, in essence, saying what I have always maintained: government must prioritise projects that directly address the immediate needs of the people,” Obi said.
He added that those who had previously attacked him for promoting such an approach should be prepared to extend the same criticism to the President if they truly believe the position is wrong.
“I hope those ministers, officials and supporters who have consistently attacked this position will now direct the same criticism at him,” he remarked.
Obi, however, argued that the same principle should apply to the Federal Government itself. He expressed concern that several large-scale projects currently being pursued by the administration could become unrealistic or constitute white-elephant ventures at a time when much of the country’s critical infrastructure remains in poor condition.
According to him, Nigeria’s current fiscal circumstances demand greater discipline in project selection and implementation.
“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,” he said.
The former governor cited the deteriorating condition of major highways across the country as evidence of misplaced priorities. He noted that many roads linking commercial centres with agricultural communities have become dangerous for commuters, transporters and farmers.
“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,” Obi stated.
Reflecting on his tenure as governor of Anambra State, Obi said his administration deliberately prioritised the completion of viable projects inherited from previous governments before initiating new ones.
He argued that governance should be viewed as a continuum rather than a competition over who initiated a project.
“This philosophy guided my administration as Governor of Anambra State. I prioritised completing viable projects initiated by my predecessors before embarking on new ones,” he said.
“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,” he added.
Obi further stated that effective leadership requires the courage to make difficult but rational decisions regarding public spending. In his view, repairing damaged infrastructure, completing ongoing projects and investing in sectors with the widest social and economic impact should take precedence over politically attractive but less essential projects.
“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,” he said.
The former presidential candidate concluded by reiterating his belief that Nigeria can achieve sustainable development through prudent management of public resources, continuity in governance and policies that place citizens’ welfare at the centre of decision-making.
“A New Nigeria is Possible,” he declared.
