The NDC presidential candidate cites corruption, insecurity and regulatory weaknesses as he questions the government’s ability to attract foreign investment.
Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what he described as its failure to establish a sufficiently conducive environment for foreign investors, citing concerns raised in the United States Department of State’s 2026 Nigeria Investment Climate Statement.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), made the remarks in a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of celebrating improvements in macroeconomic stability while, in his view, failing to adequately address structural problems affecting Nigeria’s attractiveness to investors.
Among the concerns he highlighted were corruption, insecurity, inconsistent regulatory enforcement and weaknesses in the judicial system.
Obi argued that the issues identified in the US investment climate assessment raised questions about Nigeria’s ability to attract foreign direct investment commensurate with the size of its market and its wider economic potential.
Foreign direct investment can provide capital for business expansion, support employment, introduce technology and strengthen connections between domestic industries and international markets.
However, investors also assess risks associated with policy consistency, contract enforcement, security, infrastructure and the ease of operating a business.
Investment confidence and economic reform
Nigeria has pursued economic reforms intended to address longstanding structural challenges and improve macroeconomic conditions. Nevertheless, the success of such measures is also judged by whether businesses can operate predictably and whether investment translates into productive activity and employment.
Obi’s intervention places the quality of the investment environment at the centre of the political debate ahead of the 2027 general election.
His criticism represents an opposition assessment of the administration’s performance. Evaluating the broader claim requires examining the full US report, relevant investment data and the government’s responses to the concerns raised.
The investment climate statement should therefore be considered alongside other evidence, including actual capital inflows, business conditions and progress on regulatory and institutional reforms.
The debate underscores a central economic question for Nigeria: whether policy changes can create an environment in which domestic and international investors are willing to commit capital over the long term.