Former presidential candidate and Labour Party stalwart, Peter Obi, has sounded a sharp alarm: the mounting economic hardship in Nigeria is not only hurting wallets — it is also eroding mental health across the nation.
A Growing Psychological Emergency
Speaking via his social media platform on World Mental Health Day, Obi warned that Nigerians are being driven into a state of psychological distress by the unrelenting pressure of poverty, inequality, and desperation.
The former Anambra State governor said the strain is showing up in rising rates of depression, anxiety, and even suicide.
“Nigerians are now feeling so overwhelmed by hardship that they are mentally affected,” he wrote, emphasizing that the issue should be treated as a public health emergency.
He urged the federal government to treat mental health as a development priority, calling for increased funding, training for mental health professionals, and psychiatric facilities across all zones.
Linking Hardship to Distress
Obi placed the root of this unfolding crisis squarely in Nigeria’s economic realities: rising hunger, persistent poverty, and lack of opportunity.
According to him, these pressures contribute to a silent epidemic of psychological suffering.
He referenced figures that suggest between 40 and 60 million Nigerians suffer from various mental health disorders — a statistic that underscores how deep the issue has penetrated national life.
The lack of infrastructure and investment in mental health care, he said, exacerbates the tragedy of those caught in despair.
From Economy to Emotions
Obi’s remarks resonate amid broader critiques that Nigeria’s economic policies — from fuel price rises to inflation and poor governance — have intensified the suffering of low-income families.
He has repeatedly criticized additional burdens imposed on ordinary citizens, such as steep Point-of-Sale (PoS) charges for accessing cash, which he argues squeeze street vendors and petty traders further.
Call to Action & Political Stakes
Beyond diagnosis, Obi called for a national response. He urged the government to adopt a multipronged approach combining social welfare, job creation, and mental health intervention programs. In his words, a nation’s progress should be measured by how well its citizens live, not by the wealth of its leaders.
Observers note that in making these appeals, Obi is positioning himself as more than a critic — as someone attempting to reframe national policy toward human-centric metrics of success.
Some may view it as a continuation of his political narrative; others see it as urgent moral advocacy.
History of Suffering
Yet, the path is steep. Nigeria historically suffers from a severe shortage of mental health professionals, underfunded health infrastructure, and stigma surrounding mental illness.
Even the most basic psychiatric services remain inaccessible to many.
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Turning Obi’s vision into reality will demand political will, budget reallocation, and sustained public health strategy — something critics argue current leadership has so far failed to deliver.
Runaway Inflation
As Nigeria confronts runaway inflation, rising food insecurity, and widespread alienation, Peter Obi’s warning cannot be dismissed as political rhetoric.
It calls on society to acknowledge that a nation under economic duress cannot expect the minds of its citizens to remain unscarred.
The real test now is whether those in power will take this moment as a turning point — or continue treating mental health as a footnote in national policy.
