Abuja, Nigeria – Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesperson to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has clarified that Buhari’s frequent medical trips abroad were not an indictment of Nigeria’s healthcare system but rather a matter of personal preference.
Shehu made this statement while speaking on the Inside Sources programme aired on Channels Television, where he addressed recent remarks by Femi Adesina, another of Buhari’s former media aides.
Adesina had previously stated that Buhari “could have died a long time ago” had he depended solely on Nigeria’s hospitals, citing a lack of medical expertise. However, Shehu disagreed with this assessment, stressing that Buhari maintained a trusted team of Nigerian doctors throughout his presidency.
“It is wrong to assume he distanced himself from the Nigerian medical system,” Shehu said.
“He had a Nigerian chief personal physician and was attended to by doctors from the State House Clinic, which was headed by a seasoned Nigerian consultant.”
He emphasized that the president’s medical team was consistently on standby to address his immediate health needs.
“In terms of his daily and emergency medical needs, Nigerian doctors were always present,” he added.
While confirming Buhari’s repeated visits to foreign hospitals, Shehu explained it was due to a long-standing relationship with medical practitioners overseas.
“He was simply continuing a previous medical routine established before becoming president,” Shehu explained.
“It wasn’t about disrespect or a lack of belief in Nigerian healthcare.”
Shehu further praised the global reputation of Nigerian medical professionals, highlighting their presence in leading hospitals worldwide.
“Even abroad, you’ll often find Nigerian doctors leading medical teams in top hospitals,” he said.
“Their competence is not in question.”
