8 Years as President, No World Standard Hospital to Save Him at Home: Buhari Battles Illness Abroad As Nigerians Fumes

 

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is currently recuperating in London after being discharged from an intensive care unit (ICU) in a UK hospital, sources reveal. His latest health episode, though shrouded in official silence, has once again ignited fierce debate across Nigeria about his long-standing preference for foreign medical care and his administration’s failure to upgrade the country’s healthcare system.

According to Empowered Newswire, Buhari was moved to the ICU after what was initially presented as a “routine medical check-up” turned more serious. Though recently released from critical care, he remains under observation and is yet to return to Nigeria. Close family sources confirm that the former president is recovering but provide no further details on the illness that took him to the brink.

Public anger erupted when news of Buhari’s condition broke, especially after it was disclosed that he had been under intensive care in a foreign hospital. Civil society leaders, health professionals, and critics are once again raising their voices against what they describe as a betrayal of trust. Among the most striking statements came from activist Aisha Yesufu, who declared, “President for 8 years but couldn't even build a hospital that can take care of you in 8 years. Help me define failure!”

The latest incident follows a well-documented pattern that defined Buhari’s presidency: a consistent reliance on medical facilities abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom. During his eight-year tenure, Buhari made at least a dozen foreign medical trips, spending an estimated total of over 230 days outside Nigeria for health-related issues. These travels were often not transparent, and the exact nature of his ailments was rarely made public, further fueling public mistrust.

What stands out, critics argue, is the contrast between Buhari’s actions and his campaign promises. When he first ran for office in 2015, he vowed to end the culture of medical tourism and prioritize healthcare reform. However, that promise remained largely unfulfilled. His trips abroad continued even as Nigeria’s healthcare system crumbled under the weight of neglect, underfunding, and persistent strikes by medical workers.

One particularly symbolic moment occurred in 2021 when Buhari left for a medical check-up in London just as Nigerian doctors commenced a nationwide strike over poor working conditions. That juxtaposition laid bare the disconnect between the presidency and the realities faced by the average Nigerian seeking healthcare.

Adding further sting to this controversy, Buhari’s latest medical stay comes just weeks after he missed the 50th anniversary celebration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which was held in Lagos. In a public statement, the former president attributed his absence to medical assessments in the UK that required his attention. His apology did little to calm critics, many of whom argue that his absence from key national events has become a pattern linked directly to his healthcare choices.

The criticism has not only come from civil society. Leaders within the medical community have consistently voiced concerns. Dr. Osahon Enabulele, former president of the World Medical Association, once described Buhari’s dependence on foreign care as a “national shame.” Many within the Nigerian Medical Association have long argued that local specialists are more than capable of handling the conditions that have prompted Buhari’s overseas trips.

Adding another layer to the unfolding drama, reports suggest that Buhari’s close uncle and longtime confidant, Mallam Mamman Daura, is also receiving treatment in the UK. Though no official statement has been made about Daura’s health, the simultaneous treatment of both men abroad has once again thrown a spotlight on the persistent trend of Nigeria’s political elite turning their backs on domestic medical institutions.

The economic cost of these foreign trips has also raised eyebrows. Estimates for presidential medical travel expenses, including aircraft maintenance and logistics, run as high as ₦5.4 billion. These figures do not even account for the actual cost of healthcare services, accommodation, and the accompanying delegations that often trail the president abroad.

What has infuriated many Nigerians the most is the absence of a single world-class hospital built under Buhari’s leadership, despite his long stays in office and the staggering medical bills incurred abroad. The symbolism of a former president unable to find suitable care in the very country he led for eight years has left many asking difficult questions about leadership, accountability, and national priorities.

For millions of citizens who struggle daily with failing health infrastructure, overcrowded hospitals, and underpaid medical staff, Buhari’s latest trip feels like a final confirmation of what they have long suspected: Nigeria’s leaders build for themselves abroad, while leaving the people to suffer at home.