*As Nigerians decry absence of hospital yet in the country to treat top political office holders

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday travelled to the United Kingdom UK for what his handlers described as routine medical check-up.

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity disclosed this on Monday, saying the president will return to the country in the second week of November.

But the trip infuriated Nigerians who upbraided the presidet for failing to lay the foundation for a reliable hospital that can treat top political office holders, who are accused of wasting scarce foreign exchange on what can be done back in Nigeria.

The presidential spokesman in the statement titled “President Buhari Billed for London” said he (Buhari) would return to the country in the second week of November, 2022.

“President Buhari leaves for London October 31, 2022, for routine medical checkup. He returns to the country 2nd week of November, 2022,” Adesina also tweeted.

The President, who returned last Friday from a six-day official visit to Seoul, the capital of South Korea, departed for the United Kingdom after presiding over an “emergency” meeting of National Security Council (NSC) at the State House, Abuja.

The meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa with security chiefs was convened to further review and strengthen security network in the country.

The President, who received briefs from the security chiefs, and interjected on areas that needed more attention, had to postpone the commissioning of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) new Technology and Innovation Complex because of the emergency meeting.

On Friday, President Buhari had said the recent changes in travel advice from the US and UK governments should not be a cause for panic, urging citizens to remain calm.

He had further advised the nation’s security establishment and entire citizens to continue being vigilant and careful with security.

Buhari, who said the travel advice was not an indication that there would be attacks on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), added that it was important to avoid panic as the security agents had been in charge of the situation since the July prison raid in Kuje.

The President gave assurances that the government was on top of the security situation in country.

However, reacting, Nigerians expressed sadness that after almost eight years in office, the president did not see any need to begin the construction of an international hospital where even only top politicians can be treated.

They described the constant medical tourism of Nigerian leaders as posing a security risk to the country. 

They expressed shock that issue of conserving foreign exchange is not top on thr agenda of Nigerian politicians.

They are also wondering why Aso Rock Hospital, Abuja, has remained abandoned in spite of huge amount of money sunk into the hospital.

“The president travelling abroad for medical check up is a slap on the face of Nigerians as he has consistently passed a vote of no confidence on Nigerian medical system, yet, most of them are treat by Nigerians abroad.

“I had thought that having been physically and medically stabilised, President Buhari will start showing good example by carrying out medical check up and treatment here in Nigeria.

“It is insulting that he has continue to travel abroad for medication and did not bother to lay the foundation for any proposed internationally-standard hospital that can treat people in his mould,” a very angry top politician who wants his name kept anonymous, stated.