Mr. Oladayo Ogunbowale, Special Assistant on Communication to Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has openly criticized the recent allocation announced by the Federal Government for the country’s Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), describing the funding as grossly inadequate to meet the pressing needs of Nigeria’s ailing health sector.
In a detailed post via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Ogunbowale responded to the Federal Government’s “Red Letter” initiative, which earmarked N32.9 billion for the improvement of PHCs across the nation. Citing a 2022 report by BudgIT Nigeria, he noted that there are at least 28,276 functional PHCs currently operating in the country.
By simple arithmetic, he argued, dividing the total allocation by the number of PHCs amounts to approximately N1.16 million per facility a figure he deems both unrealistic and insufficient to drive any meaningful transformation in healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
“Let’s crunch the numbers together,” Ogunbowale wrote. “According to a 2022 report from @BudgITng, Nigeria has 28,276 ‘functional’ PHCs. Divide N32.9 billion by 28,276 ,assuming there are no handling fees and what you get is a paltry N1.16 million per PHC. What can this realistically achieve, especially given the skyrocketing cost of medical equipment, personnel, and essential drugs?”
Ogunbowale’s critique underscores broader concerns about the sustainability and impact of federal interventions in healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Public health experts and policy analysts have echoed similar sentiments, warning that unless funding is backed by comprehensive reform, efficient monitoring, and equitable distribution, the outcomes will fall short of expectations.
His comments have since sparked a fresh wave of conversation on social media and within policy circles, with many questioning whether such funding represents a symbolic gesture or a genuine effort toward improving healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria.
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