Nigerians on social media have lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari over his frequent medical checkups outside the country.

These reactions trailed a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adeshina, who stated that Buhari would be travelling to London, UK for a medical checkup on Friday.

The report had attracted public outrage with many people asking why the President could not build a standard world-class hospital in the Federal Capital Territory or any part of Nigeria where he can visit for medical checkup.

Others described the President’s frequent visits to hospitals abroad as an insult to the medical practitioners in Nigeria, stating that Buhari’s action will portray local medical practitioners as not professional enough.

Some social media users also alleged that Buhari had spent so much national resources on meeting his personal health needs.

Facebook user, Mal Umar Musa wrote,

The best one in Nigeria is good governance! Tell him to equip our domestic hospital if he really loves Nigerians! Tell him to repair our Refineries and stop all those Oil importation if he really wants Nigeria.

This trip would continue to tarnish the image of Nigerian leaders and expose National failure. if he like he can select among the Miyatti Allah native doctors.

Another user, Oludare James, posted

This really shows that the current administration has failed beyond repair. How will the president of a country be travelling to another country for medical treatment? You’re saying that the best hospital ever provided by you is not best to take care of your medical issues. And you promised to provide the best health care for your people. Indeed! This administration is a curse to this country.

Bamidele Akinmusanmi said,

Will there ever be a day the UK Prime Minister will visit Nigeria for medical check-up, never. Nigeria is richer than the UK in terms of resources but corruption has brought her down.

Another user, Gbenga Fabayi said,

This govt doesn’t have shame at all; you leave your country to receive medical… you send your children abroad to receive adequate education and you will be telling Nigeria you spent billions on health & education sector, you politicians that don’t make masses have peace in Nigeria will die in agony.

Al-Amin Shuaib wrote,

In six years, he has spent more time abroad on medical trips than he has at Aso Rock Villa. God forbid!!! Never again.

Since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, Buhari has embarked on medical trips abroad at least five times, covering a period of no fewer than 170 days of the five years he had been in power.

The following is a timeline of the President’s trips for medical treatment; on February 5 to 10, 2016, the President took a six-day vacation in the United Kingdom, saying that his doctors lived in England.

Between June 6 and 19, 2016, Buhari went on a 10-day medical trip to England for an ear infection surgery. He extended his trip by three days to rest.

On January 19, 2017, the President was back in London again on a medical vacation.

On February 5, 2017, he wrote to the National Assembly, seeking an extension of his London medical leave. Later on March 10, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria but didn’t resume work immediately at Aso Villa.

The Presidency had claimed that

he was working from home.

On May 7, 2017, Buhari embarked on a trip to London for another medical vacation. He returned after 104 days – the longest he had stayed outside the country.

On August 19, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria, and it took him a while to resume work because rats had reportedly damaged furniture in his office.

The Presidency had announced that he would be working from home. On May 8, 2018, Buhari went to London for a four-day “medical review.”

On April 26, 2019, Buhari again left for the UK on a 10-day private visit to seek medical care. He came back to the country on May 5.

In 2020, Buhari had not minimised his foreign medical trips to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global lockdown and strain on medical facilities.

Also, from March 30 to April 6 2021, the President embarked on another trip for a routine medical checkup in London.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.