The death of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at London’s prestigious private hospital, The London Clinic, on Sunday, July 13, has reignited public anger over Nigeria’s crumbling healthcare system and the ruling elite’s dependence on foreign medical care.
Buhari, 82, had been undergoing treatment at the UK facility since April for what was initially described as a “routine check-up” but later developed serious complications. His nephew, Mamman Daura, said the former leader was in “high spirits” and preparing for discharge before suddenly relapsing.
“He was looking forward to his doctor’s visit on Sunday morning. But by midday, he began to struggle with breathing… and by 4:30 p.m., he passed away,” Daura told ThisDay.
Ironically, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a fellow former Head of State, had just been discharged from the same hospital days before Buhari’s death.
The London Clinic, long regarded as one of the world’s most exclusive medical facilities, has treated monarchs, world leaders, and the ultra-wealthy. According to a UK-based Nigerian doctor familiar with the hospital’s billing structure, consultation fees can exceed £750, intensive care units cost between £3,000 and £3,500 per night, and complex surgeries may reach up to £13,000. In emergency cases requiring specialized care, ICU charges could climb as high as £6,500 per day.
Despite allocating N21 billion to construct a VIP Presidential Clinic in Abuja during Buhari’s administration, successive Nigerian presidents — including Buhari and now Bola Tinubu — have continued to seek treatment overseas. Critics say this signals a profound lack of faith in Nigeria’s healthcare system and represents a costly misuse of public funds.
Health professionals and advocacy groups have condemned the trend. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have all described the reliance on foreign hospitals by Nigeria’s leaders as a “national disgrace.”
“This is a betrayal of public trust,” said Dr. Tope Osundara, NARD President. “You can’t tell people to use pills you won’t take yourself. It sends a dangerous message.”
NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, echoed the criticism, calling it “a vote of no confidence in the very system they were elected to fix.”
Prof. Muhammad Muhammad of MDCAN urged the government to emulate countries like India and Egypt, which invested heavily in their healthcare systems and are now global destinations for medical tourism.
Buhari’s presidency was marked by repeated trips abroad for treatment, despite early promises to end medical tourism. Over his eight years in office, he reportedly undertook at least 10 medical visits to London, spending over 225 days outside the country for health-related reasons. His longest single medical trip lasted 104 days in 2017. In total, more than N6 billion was spent on foreign medical travel during his tenure.
His former media adviser, Femi Adesina, once defended the trips, claiming Buhari’s long-trusted medical team was based in the UK and that seeking local care “just for optics” could have endangered his life.
That explanation drew sharp rebukes from medical professionals.
“Claiming Buhari would have died in a Nigerian hospital is not only false, it’s insulting to Nigerian doctors,” said Dr. Osundara. “It fuels an already damaging stereotype of incompetence, which isn’t the case. What’s lacking is investment, not skill.”
The persistent neglect of Nigeria’s healthcare sector continues to drive a mass exodus of medical professionals. Thousands of doctors have left the country in recent years, lured by better facilities, training, and pay abroad — further weakening the system at home.
Experts argue that fixing the rot will require more than rhetoric.
“We need comprehensive reform — tax incentives for private hospitals, improved funding, strong regulatory oversight, and a commitment to upgrade infrastructure in public facilities,” Prof. Muhammad insisted.
As Nigerians mourn the passing of their former president, the circumstances surrounding his death have reignited calls for systemic healthcare reform, one that delivers quality care to both the powerful and the powerless within Nigeria’s borders.
