FACT CHECK: Are 25 million Nigerians living with kidney disease as Peter Obi claimed?

Presidential candidate Peter Obi claimed that over 25 million Nigerians suffer from kidney disease when he spoke at a conference organized by the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt. This assertion aligns with estimates from nephrology experts and public sources, which estimate around 25 million Nigerians live with chronic kidney disease, with approximately 45,000 deaths attributed to the condition annually.

However, the figure is an estimate, not a precise national count. Another claim made by Obi was that Nigeria currently has fewer than 200 kidney/dialysis centres and needs about 1,000. This claim is supported by evidence that the number of dialysis centres in Nigeria has been below 200, with recent reports suggesting just over 200 centres in operation.

The claim that Nigeria needs around 5,000 machines is also substantiated, as available evidence states there are about 800 functional dialysis machines nationwide. The cost of a dialysis machine is also addressed, with Obi claiming it costs N10 million per machine. This figure is supported by publicly available information, though it is not exact, as the price can vary based on the type, brand, and whether the equipment is new or refurbished.

Finally, Obi stated that if petrol subsidy savings were saved, an additional $10 billion could be added to Nigeria's sovereign wealth fund. However, this claim lacks verifiable sources to support the specific amount, and it is presented as an opinion or projection rather than a substantiated statement.