In a terse public statement, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, says the “medical follow-up visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to United Kingdom earlier scheduled for today, Friday, June 25, 2021, has been postponed.

A new date will be announced in due course.”

Meanwhile, Buhari’s frequent foreign travels, especially for medical check-ups continue to set many tongues wagging.

Asides his medical trips, Buhari has visited the UK on several occasions for private and official reasons.

A lot of Nigerians have always raised questions on propriety of Buhari’s medical tourism with respect to the country’s healthcare system.

Other Nigerians, however think otherwise, arguing it is well within the right of the President to travel for his medical needs.

In 2016, during the wake of the criticisms that trailed the trips, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, published an opinion explaining that Buhari’s foreign trips were not for enjoyment.

Checks revealed that since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, Buhari has embarked on medical trips abroad six times in six years.

* February 5-10, 2016: Buhari took a six-day vacation in the United Kingdom.

* June 6-19, 2016: Buhari went on a 10-day medical trip to England for an ear infection surgery. He extended his trip by three days to rest.

* January 19, 2017: Buhari went to London again on a medical vacation.

* February 5, 2017: Buhari wrote to the National Assembly, seeking extension of his London medical leave.

* May 7, 2017: Buhari embarked on a trip to London for another medical vacation. He returned after 104 days.

* May 8, 2018: Buhari went to London for a four-day “medical review.”

* March 30, 2021: Buhari flew to London for a medical check up on 30th March, 2021 for two weeks.

The Nation