A former presidential aide Garba Shehu, has clarified that the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s regular medical visits abroad were a matter of personal preference not a reflection of distrust in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Speaking during an interview on Saturday, Shehu directly responded to recent comments made by Femi Adesina, another former spokesperson to Buhari, who claimed the ex-president might not have survived his illness had he relied solely on local medical care.
Adesina had stirred controversy by suggesting that Buhari’s overseas treatment was necessary due to the inadequacies of Nigerian hospitals. But Shehu pushed back against that narrative, maintaining that the former president remained under the supervision of Nigerian medical professionals throughout his tenure.
“It is wrong to assume he detached himself from the Nigerian medical system,” Shehu said.
“He had a Nigerian doctor, a chief personal physician, and a State House clinic headed by a seasoned medical consultant. These professionals were always available for his immediate medical needs.”
While Shehu admitted that Buhari did make frequent trips abroad for more extensive treatment, he insisted those decisions were rooted in continuity of care, not criticism of Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
“He had an established medical history with doctors overseas. That relationship predated his presidency and continued while in office,” Shehu explained.
“It wasn’t about dismissing Nigerian doctors — far from it.”
Shehu went on to praise the caliber of Nigerian-trained doctors, many of whom he said are practicing successfully across Europe and North America.
“You walk into hospitals abroad, and more often than not, the surgeon or physician attending to you is a Nigerian,” he noted. “Our doctors are among the best in the world.”
Buhari passed away on July 13, 2025, in a London medical facility after a prolonged illness. He was laid to rest two days later at his private residence in Daura, Katsina State.
