Former presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina has defended ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent medical trips to the United Kingdom, stating that Buhari might have died much earlier had he relied solely on Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Speaking during Channels Television’s live coverage of Buhari’s funeral, Adesina said Buhari had long depended on UK-based doctors, even before becoming president, and that the decision was life-saving rather than political.
“If he had said, ‘I will do my medicals in Nigeria’ just as a show-off, he could have long been dead,” Adesina stated.
“He needed to be alive to lead the country to a point where we will have that expertise.”
Buhari, who died on Sunday at 82 after a prolonged illness, reportedly spent over 200 days in London receiving treatment during his presidency—fueling public criticism of medical tourism by Nigerian leaders and the deplorable state of local hospitals.
His 103-day absence in 2017 sparked national uncertainty and death rumors, which were later debunked when he returned to resume duties.
Adesina’s remarks have rekindled debate over the healthcare crisis in Nigeria and the need for urgent reforms in the sector.
