Former presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina has said that the late President Muhammadu Buhari might not have survived as long as he did had he relied solely on Nigerian hospitals for medical treatment.
Speaking during Channels Television’s special funeral coverage on Tuesday, Adesina defended Buhari’s long-standing preference for seeking medical care in the United Kingdom, where he passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after a prolonged illness.
Addressing criticism over the former president’s death in a London hospital, Adesina said the decision to receive treatment abroad was based on continuity and trust.
“He had been using UK hospitals before becoming president, and the doctors there were already familiar with his medical history,” Adesina said.
The former presidential aide, who was also once editor of The Sun newspaper, added that many Nigerian hospitals lacked the advanced facilities and expertise needed to manage the former president’s condition.
“If he had been treated here, perhaps he wouldn’t have lasted as long,” he said, noting that Buhari’s treatment abroad likely extended his life.
Adesina’s comments reflect a long-running debate over Nigeria’s healthcare system and the tendency of its political elite to seek treatment overseas.
