Claim: An X user, @mickoly, shared a chart claiming President Bola Tinubu released ₦36 million for health coverage in 2025, while Peter Obi spent over ₦250 million of his personal funds supporting healthcare.

Verdict: The claim is true. Publicly available data shows N330m was spent supporting nursing colleges, mission hospitals, and primary healthcare infrastructure.

Background

Concerns about limited funding for Nigeria’s health sector resurfaced during the 2026 budget defence session before the National Assembly Committee on Healthcare Services. The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, attributed the ministry’s challenges in implementing the 2025 capital budget to disparities between allocated funds and actual releases.

Nigeria’s 2025 federal budget stood at ₦49.74 trillion. From this, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was allocated ₦1.91 trillion, including ₦298.42 billion earmarked for the Basic Health Care Infrastructure Provision Fund (BHCPF).

Despite these allocations, Nigeria’s health spending has historically fallen below the 15% benchmark agreed under the Abuja Declaration.

Nigeria’s healthcare system also relies heavily on private providers and philanthropy. Reports indicate private facilities deliver roughly 70% of healthcare services nationwide. Experts have repeatedly called for improved funding coordination, transparency, and macroeconomic stability to strengthen the sector.

Private interventions remain common. For example, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu donated mobile clinics to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Taraba State Government. Similarly, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc supported the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) with medical supplies, while the Medicaid Cancer Foundation provided financial assistance to cancer patients.

Amid these discussions, attention shifted to the philanthropic activities of Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

The Viral Claim

Following reports of underfunding in the health sector, social media users circulated claims comparing federal releases with Obi’s personal donations. The chart shared by @mickoly suggested Obi’s contributions far exceeded government releases.

See the chart below:

The post generated significant engagement, attracting thousands of views, likes, and reposts, alongside mixed reactions from users.

@Pandyman24 believed the claim Obi truly spent that much, saying, “Imagine what a private Citizen can do, think about what he can do when he becomes number 1

@KingsleyNdukir1 raised a concern about the sudden donation by Mr Obi while seeking to be president, despite being a governor for 8 years without such donations.

@mickoly suggested Obi is worth the credit for building a university teaching hospital and questioning why Mr Tinubu did not donate to the health sector as an individual.

Mr. Obi Peter has reiterated his ambition to contest the 2027 presidential elections on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, raising concerns over the surge in the social media claims of personal donations.

Verification

A review of credible reports confirms that only ₦36 million was released from the ₦218 billion capital allocation for the health sector in the 2025 budget year.

Separately, documented records of Peter Obi’s healthcare-related donations in 2025 include contributions to institutions such as:

• IHM Health System, Anambra State (N25million)
• Faith Nursing College, Enugu State (N20 million)
• Tansian University College of Nursing ( ₦10 million)
• Anglican School and Hospital (N20 million )
• Anglican Diocese of Enugu’s Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCC) (N20 million)
• Godfrey Okoye University Teaching Hospital (N20 million)
• University of Calabar (UNICAL) Faculty of Dentistry ( ₦20 million).
• Philomena College of Nursing Sciences in Benin City, Edo State (N15 million)
• Dominican Sisters’ College, Abatete in Anambra State (N25 million)
• Dominican Sisters’ College, Abatete in Anambra State ( N25 million)
• Malikiya College of Nursing Sciences and Intisharu Taufizul Quranic School in Bauchi ( N15 million)
• Aguata Anglican Diocese’ Good Hope Specialist Hospital in Isulo in Orumba South LGA of Anambra State (10 million).
• College of Nursing Sciences, Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State (N20 million)
•  Annunciation Hospital College of Nursing Sciences in Emene, Enugu State (₦20 million)
• College of Nursing Sciences, Adazi Nnukwu and UniNiger University Teaching Hospital, Iyienu, in Anambra (N30million).
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ihiala, Anambra State (N15 million).
• Anglican School of Nursing Sciences, Oji River, Enugu State (N10 million).
• Community Health Centre, in Amafor, Ihuobala, in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State (N20 million).
• College of Nursing Sciences, St Charles Baroomew Hospital, Onitsha (N15 million).

These publicly reported donations cumulatively amount to approximately ₦330 million for the year.

In conclusion, available evidence supports both components of the claim: one, Federal capital releases to the health sector in 2025 amounted to ₦36 million
While Peter Obi’s personal healthcare-related donations amounted to ₦330 million

Therefore, the claim is true.

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