National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has pledged to establish a primary healthcare centre in every ward across Nigeria if elected president, describing accessible healthcare as a fundamental priority for national development.
Obi made the promise during a visit to the Wazobia Wura community in Apo, Abuja, where he interacted with residents and reiterated his commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
“I am going to ensure that I set up a primary health care center in all the more than 8,000 wards in Nigeria within a period of time,” Obi said during the visit.
The former Anambra State governor stressed that expanding access to primary healthcare would improve health outcomes, particularly for rural and underserved communities where access to basic medical services remains limited.
Obi argued that investments in healthcare, alongside education and poverty reduction, are essential to improving the quality of life for Nigerians and driving sustainable national development.
His remarks come as healthcare infrastructure remains a major challenge in many parts of the country. Nigeria currently has thousands of primary healthcare centres, but many are either poorly equipped or non-functional. The Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), is implementing a nationwide programme to revitalise existing facilities with the goal of ensuring at least one functional primary healthcare centre in every political ward.
According to official figures, more than 3,000 primary healthcare centres have undergone infrastructure upgrades under the ongoing reform programme, while the government continues efforts to expand access to quality primary healthcare services nationwide.
Obi’s pledge adds to the growing policy debate ahead of future elections, with healthcare expected to remain one of the key issues as political parties outline their plans to address the country’s development challenges.
