President Buhari cancels medical trip to UK

President Muhammadu Buhari’s planned medical trip to London has been cancelled with reports indicating doctors will instead fly in from UK for further medical examination. The president had gone to the UK on an extended medical vacation before returning 51 days later. On his return, the president had hinted that he would soon be returning to the UK for further medical examination but according to Sahara Reporters, the medical trip has been cancelled. 

Instead, medical doctors are expended from London on Friday, March 31 in Abuja to meet with the president in order to carry further examination. It was reported that some of his closest aides advised again going on another medical trip as this would fuel rumour concerning his state of health all over again. NAIJ.com had reported that the president’s trip to the UK had generated speculation that he was seriously ill with some even saying he had passed away although this was refuted several times by his media aides. Meanwhile, the minister of information, Lai Mohammed said that the federal government's decision to release the medical expenses of President Buhari was on the basis of national security. He said: “This matter (the President’s medical bill) has come several times and our position on the matter is quite straight forward. “What are the President’s conditions of service? What are his entitlements in terms of his well-being and health care? The state is supposed to take responsibility for these. 

“We believe that asking for how much has been spent on the health of the President is an issue that we should weigh very well both for national security and also for moral issues. I don’t know why we must divulge such very sensitive information"