AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Nigerians expended at least $29.29 billion on medical care abroad during the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a media investigation has revealed.
This figure, sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) quarterly statistical bulletins, represents cumulative foreign exchange outflows under the category of “Health-Related and Social Services” between June 2015 and May 2023.
On average, this translates to an annual spending of approximately $3.66 billion on foreign healthcare.
The data underscores Nigeria’s heavy reliance on overseas medical services, even amid recurring economic downturns and acute foreign exchange shortages at home.
Notably, spending under Buhari’s second term outpaced the first, with $16.56 billion recorded between 2019 and 2023, compared to $12.73 billion from 2015 to 2019. This indicates that the persistent drivers of medical tourism remained largely unaddressed—and may have worsened—throughout his administration.
Ironically, Buhari himself was frequently abroad for medical reasons. Over his eight years in office, he reportedly spent at least 225 days on medical trips, visiting more than 40 countries.
His first medical visit occurred on February 5, 2016, eight months into his presidency, when he spent six days in London. He returned to the UK on June 6, 2016, for another 10 days to treat an ear infection. Notably, in 2017, he spent 50 days on one trip and 104 days on another, both for undisclosed medical issues.
Reacting to the trend, President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Bala Audu, said while individuals have the right to seek care abroad, the consistent dependence of public officials on foreign hospitals—despite significant domestic healthcare funding—reflects gross misplacement of priorities.
Similarly, Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, described the trend as “disheartening” and a damning indictment of Nigeria’s health sector leadership and investment strategy.
