NEWS
Despite N2.3tn health budgets, Buhari spends 201 days on foreign medical trips
• Aso Villa clinic gulps N6.2bn in six years, doctors knock FG
Six years and two months since his regime began on May 29, 2015, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has spent a total of 201 days on medical leave as of Sunday, based on information made public by the Presidency.
Despite Buhari’s preference for foreign medical care, the Federal Ministry of Health has consumed a total of N2.3tn from 2016 to date, while the State House Medical Centre has received N6.2bn, according to the respective appropriation acts available on the website of the Budget Office of the Federation.
The presidential clinic caters for the President, Vice President, their families and members of staff of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In 2016, the Ministry of Health received N250bn, while the State House Medical Centre got N2.8bn In 2017, N304.1bn was allocated to the Ministry of Health and N331.7m to the State House Medical Centre.
The 2018 budget indicated that the ministry had N356.4bn, while the presidential clinic received N1bn. In 2019, N372.7bn went to the ministry and the Villa medical centre got N798.8m.
In 2020, N414.4bn was budgeted for health as against N598.6m for the State House Medical Centre. The 2021 budget allocated N549.8bn to the Ministry of Health and N641.1m for the presidential clinic.
Additionally, the recently signed 2021 Supplementary Appropriation Act allocated to the ministry N83.5bn for National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, as well as N1.68bn for National Agency for the Control of AIDS.
Buhari left for the UK on June 6, 2016, for his first medical vacation, following reports that he had an ear infection. He returned on June 19, 2016.
On January 19, 2017, the President again travelled to the UK on medical leave and returned on March 10, 2017, after spending 51 days.
Barely 40 days after, Buhari travelled again to the UK for medical attention on May 8, 2017 and remained there till August 19, 2017, spending 104 consecutive days, a record which surpassed that of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
After attending the 72nd UN General Assembly, on September 21, 2017, he travelled from the US to the UK for medical purposes and returned to Abuja on September 25, 2017.
On May 8, 2018, four days after arriving in Nigeria, Buhari returned to the UK for medical reasons and he returned on May 11.
The President again travelled to London on a working leave on August 3, 2018 and returned on the 18th, spending a total of 16 days. His handlers said during interviews that “he may just see his doctors briefly during the visit.”
On April 25, 2019, Buhari arrived in the UK for a 10-day “private visit,” returning on May 5, 2018, though information was not given on the purpose of the trip.
Again, on November 2, 2019, he proceeded on a 15-day “private visit” to London, following bilateral talks in Saudi Arabia. He returned to the country on November 17.
In 2020, the President did not leave the country for a single medical trip, presumably due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
But on March 30, 2021, he resumed his medical visits with two-week trip to London.
On June 24, the President postponed another planned medical trip to the UK. He, however, departed the country for London on Monday to attend an education summit and have a check-up. He is expected to return in the second week of August.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in an appearance on Channels Television last Monday, stated that his boss preferred to have his check-up in the United Kingdom as Nigerian doctors did not have his medical profile.
He said, “President Buhari has been with the same doctors and medical team for upward of 40 years,” he said when asked why the President couldn’t have been treated in Nigeria.
“It is advisable that he continues with that who knows his medical history and that is why he comes to London to see them. He has used the same medical team for over 40 years. Once you can afford it, then stay with the team that has your history.”
NMA, NARD react
The Nigerian Medical Association and the National Association of Resident Doctors, in separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH, expressed displeasure at the neglect suffered by the health sector amid the President’s frequent medical trips.
The General Secretary of the NMA, Dr Philip Eke, credited the private sector for a majority of the development recorded in the health sector.
He said, “We could have committed more funds to make the health sector better. But unfortunately, it is even the private sector that is improving the health sector, not the public sector, because the government is not even buying equipment.
“It may seem as if the workers are paid relatively higher, but that money is nothing when the cost of food is very high. By and large, I don’t think there is much improvement in the health indices in the country as expected. The private sector has done a whole lot trying to improve the health sector.
“But one thing again is that the behaviour of the public office holders tells you that there has not been any improvement in the health sector because if they had improved the health sector, they would have the confidence to stay and get treated.”
Noting that there was not outright immorality in seeking medical care abroad, Eke argued that there were available professionals in the country. According to him, the neglect in the health sector had led to brain drain to Canada, UK and other developed countries.
The NMA general secretary said, “What is the illness that the President has that we don’t have the personnel or manpower in Nigeria to treat such that he has to travel out of the country? “That tells you that even if he does not trust the system and if the President does not trust the system, it means he is not leading by example and means other public office holders will also leave.
“I am not saying we should not seek health care outside the country, especially if it is something that is beyond our capacity. But even basic primary health care is not really working. Despite the fact that the basic health care provision fund was released — kudos to the government for that — we have not seen the effect in making sure that the states improve on health insurance.
“They only did that because they wanted to collect some of that money. It’s not functional, it’s just structural. We are still waiting as the Speaker of the House of Representatives is still pushing so that the President can give assent to the bill that will make national health insurance mandatory. Once that happens, there will be a lot of money in the health sector.”
The NARD President, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, also decried the lack of standard health infrastructure in the country, saying the blame should be laid at the feet of not only the President, but all elected officials.
According to him, the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of the health sector are plagued by poor planning on the part of researchers, members of the state houses of assembly, the House of Representatives, governors and commissioners, among others.
Okhuaihesuyi said, “We gave an ultimatum in May concerning our strike notice. We are currently in Umuahia (Abia State) to reappraise and reassess the MoU signed with the government. As it stands, I hope it’s not going to be a coincidence if NARD will be on strike.
“On infrastructure, you and I know that global best practices dictate that our healthcare systems must have a better budget. We should have (at least) a standard hospital in all the six (geopolitical) zones in the country. We should have the basic things that a hospital needs to function properly.
“But there is no hospital in Nigeria presently that I can say adopts global best practices. The ones that are close to adopting best practices are those owned by private individuals, not the government. If the government pays more attention to the health system in Nigeria, it would go a long way in ensuring that one can stay in one’s country and get the best health care any person deserves as a human being.”
President’s medical trips wasteful, says Okei-Odumakin
In the same vein, the President of Campaign for Democracy, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, in a text message, stated that the attraction to foreign health care demonstrated the failure of leadership.
She said, “There has been no improvement whatsoever in the health sector, based on a lack of commitment by successive administrations in the country.
“Sadly, the continued patronage of foreign hospitals by privileged Nigerians, including the President and his immediate family, has increased the lack of confidence in the sector, thereby increasing medical tourism and wastage of public funds on such adventures.”
-PUNCH
NEWS
N1.7trn Loan: Atiku Blames NASS For Worsening Nigeria’s Debt Burden
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.
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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.
“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.
He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.
“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.
Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.
“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said
He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”
Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.
He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.
“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.
“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.
He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.
International News
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Others
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
NEWS
Edo State Governor Sets Up Committee To Recover Missing Gov’t Vehicles
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.
The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.
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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.
In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.
“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.
“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”
The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.
“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”
He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.
“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.
The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.