Former Nigerian President Buhari in London Hospital for Treatment

By Vesla Centurion Kals

Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari is receiving medical care in London as concerns grow over his health, sources close to his family have confirmed.

Buhari, who is 82, has been abroad since April. Initially he traveled to the United Kingdom for what aides described as a routine medical checkup. However, according to family sources, his condition deteriorated and he spent several days in an intensive care unit.

His longtime spokesperson, Garba Shehu, confirmed that the former leader is unwell and remains in London under observation. Shehu did not reveal any details about the nature of Buhari’s illness or the specific hospital where he is being treated.

“President Buhari is in London for medical attention and will return to Nigeria once his doctors have cleared him,” Shehu said in a brief statement on Friday.

Buhari served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023, having first ruled the country as a military leader in the 1980s. During his time in office, he frequently traveled abroad for medical reasons, including extended stays in the UK that often raised speculation about his condition.

The former president’s health became a sensitive topic throughout his tenure, with his administration repeatedly insisting that he was fit to govern despite long absences.

Sources say Buhari has been accompanied by close family members and a small medical team in London. He is expected to return home once he has fully recovered, though no exact timeline has been given.

His latest medical trip comes amid renewed debate in Nigeria about the cost and transparency of political leaders seeking care abroad rather than building trust in local health systems.