The death of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at The London Clinic—one of the United Kingdom’s most exclusive private hospitals—has sparked renewed scrutiny over the country’s reliance on foreign medical care for its top officials.
Buhari had been admitted to The London Clinic in April for what was described as a routine check-up but reportedly took ill during his stay. He died on Sunday afternoon after suffering a relapse, according to his nephew, Mamman Daura, who said the former President was in high spirits the previous evening and was expecting to be discharged soon.
“I left him about 9 pm on Saturday in high spirits and promised to see him on Sunday afternoon. He was looking forward to his doctor’s visit on Sunday morning. But around midday, he started having breathing challenges and doctors rushed to his side to try and manage it. But unfortunately, around 4.30 pm, he gave up the ghost,” Daura.
Buhari was reportedly in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the time of his death. His passing was announced by his former spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, who said: “The family of the former President has announced the passing of Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus.”
Video clips later emerged showing the former President’s children and relatives visiting The London Clinic, located on London’s prestigious Harley Street, where Buhari was treated before his death.
The London Clinic: A Haven for the Global Elite
Established in 1932, The London Clinic is renowned for its expertise in cancer care, digestive health, orthopaedics, and advanced surgeries, including robotic and minimally invasive procedures. With 13 ICU beds, 10 operating theatres, five Macmillan Cancer Centres, and around 900 consultants, the clinic handles over 120,000 patients annually from around the world—including political figures and royalty.
The hospital’s areas of specialty include cancer therapies, haematology, orthopaedics (especially spinal surgery), general surgery, ENT, neurosurgery, and more.
According to a 2021 financial report seen by Hamish Leslie Melville, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, noted that the clinic’s care focuses on cancer, digestive disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions. It offers top-tier technology, including da Vinci Xi robots, ExcelsiusGPS, NAVIO systems, 3T Siemens MRI machines, and PET-CT scanners.
Consultation fees range between £100 and £750. A CT scan costs around £500, while major surgeries can cost between £10,000 and £13,000. ICU admission reportedly ranges between £3,000 and £3,500 per night. Standard rooms cost £1,000–£1,800 per night, while VIP suites go for £1,800–£2,500.
Two UK-based Nigerian doctors, confirmed the hospital’s elite status, noting that many of its staff are Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons and other top-tier specialists. One doctor also noted that two Nigerian specialists—a respiratory consultant and an orthopaedic surgeon—once worked at the clinic.
Despite The London Clinic’s global reputation, the UK’s National Institutes of Health noted in a study that general ward beds there cost around £586.59 per day, excluding additional treatment-related charges.
The clinic's ICU boasts a low mortality rate, with a Standard Mortality Rate of 0.7—placing it among the top 10% in the UK. Patient satisfaction rates reportedly range from 95 to 100 percent.
International patients are a major component of the clinic’s operations, with treatments often sponsored by foreign governments, embassies, or companies. Though the Nigerian government has not confirmed if it paid for Buhari’s care, the Remuneration of Former Presidents Act mandates the federal government to cover the medical expenses of former presidents and their families.
High-Cost Medical Tourism: A Persistent Trend
In 2021, President Buhari approved a ₦21bn project to construct a 14-bed Presidential VIP wing within the State House Clinic. By March 2022, ₦10.06bn had reportedly been disbursed for the project, which was said to be 80% complete.
Nevertheless, Buhari’s successor, President Bola Tinubu, has also undertaken several medical trips abroad, primarily to France, costing taxpayers millions.
From 2007 to 2022, the federal government is believed to have spent at least ₦13.4bn on international medical trips for former Presidents Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. During his presidency, Buhari alone spent at least 225 days outside Nigeria on medical visits, covering 84 trips to over 40 countries.
His foreign medical trips included:
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Feb 5–10, 2016: Six-day trip for an ear infection
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June 6–16, 2016: Ten days for follow-up treatment
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Jan 19–Mar 10, 2017: 50-day medical trip
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May 7–Aug 19, 2017: 104 days in London (his longest)
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May 2018, March 2021, March 2022, and Oct–Nov 2022: Various trips for check-ups
Former spokesperson Femi Adesina defended these trips, saying Buhari trusted a UK-based medical team he’d used for 40 years. In a recent interview, Adesina claimed: “If he had said I’d do my medicals in Nigeria just for show off… he could have long been dead.”
Backlash from Nigerian Medical Community
Leaders of Nigeria’s medical associations have criticised the persistent reliance on foreign hospitals by political elites.
Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), called the trend “disheartening” and an indictment of government failure. “You can’t ask people to trust a system you won’t use yourself,” he said, noting that even during Buhari’s presidency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was treated locally with success.
Dr. Osundara condemned Adesina’s remarks, saying, “To suggest Buhari would have died in a Nigerian hospital is an insult to Nigerian doctors.”
Professor Bala Audu, President of the Nigerian Medical Association, stated that while patients have the right to seek care abroad, public officials doing so frequently reflects poorly on local healthcare investments.
“The issue isn’t about competence. Nigerian doctors and nurses are among the best. The real problem is infrastructure,” Audu said.
He added that doctors and nurses often work long shifts under tough conditions and need better equipment, personnel support, and a conducive work environment.
Professor Muhammad Muhammad, President of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, agreed that leaders have a right to choose their care, but urged that Nigerian hospitals must be upgraded to meet the needs of all citizens.
He called for government policies that would support the development of private super-specialty hospitals, similar to those in India and Egypt, using tax breaks, funding access, and import duty waivers.
“This would reduce foreign exchange loss, encourage job creation, and enhance healthcare access domestically,” Muhammad concluded.
ADEOLA KUNLE
