A TIMELINE OF PRESIDENT BUHARI'S UNPRECEDENTED MEDICAL TOURISM 

Did you know that President Muhammadu Buhari's return on Sunday, 13th November 2022 to Nigeria from a medical trip makes it its 10th trip since he came to power in 2015, and that in total he has spent 237 days abroad seeking treatment or checkup for undisclosed ailments in the last seven years?

An Aviation enthusiasts, Sunday Olumegbo, as quoted from a publication on TheGuardianNigeria online said: “....What has the President done to replicate in Abuja, Lagos or Daura, the type of hospitals he visits in London at our expense? Nothing. And in seven years, the only thing that has improved in this country is his health. That is the most selfish of any President."

Records show that between February 5, 2016 when President Buhari took the first vacation and returned on Sunday (November 13, 2022), there had been a total of 10 such visits to London with the President passing 237 nights. 

According to TheGuardian, estimates of the President Buhari’s medical tourism record, which is unprecedented in Nigeria’s history, as well, costs the country in medical bills and operating cost of the Nigerian Air Force One (NAF 001) airplane, showed that the trips already cost between N1.1 billion to N5.4 billion in sundry operational costs, including fuel, landing and parking charges.

On each of the visits and vacation, he was accompanied by the NAF 001, – a Boeing 737-700NG Business Jet (BBJ) – which routinely attracts cost on fuel and sundry charges at the Luton Airport in London. Findings show that to power the massive jet on a six-hour travel-time to London requires approximately 42,000 litres of fuel. At the current rate of N700/litre, each return trip did cost N58.8 million; a whopping N588 million in over 10 trips.

Luton’s Charges and Condition of Use manual for 2022/23 has breakdown of some attendant charges, including landing and parking the BBJ. Aircraft parking charge, per minute, is estimated at £0.042 per tonne. With the BBJ weighing an average of 70 tonnes, it costs £4.233 (or N2.21 million @N521.48/£) each day, and cumulatively £1.00 million (N523.23 million) in 237 days. Each landing is estimated to cost about £336.07 (N175.250) and cumulatively N1.75 million. Fuel, landing and parking charges account for a total of N1.11 billion.

Other sundry charges at the airport include navigational service charge, night operation charge, police services charge, CAA Aviation security charge, new security equipment charge, ground handling changes that may be as high as £5000, engine run-up bay charge, stand de-icing charge, marshaling charge and technical wash charge, among others.

A check showed that the budget for the presidential fleet has indeed been on the upswing in the last seven-year, except for that proposed for the finale, that is 2023. In 2016, PAF was awarded N3.65 billion. From N4.37 billion in 2017, its vote rose to N7.26 billion in 2018. The 2019 budget provided N7.3 billion as fleet maintenance cost, and jumped to N8.5 billion in 2020. In 2021 and 2022, the Federal Government budgeted N25 billion for the fleet. For next year, the PAF has been awarded a reduced N8.07 billion.   

Here is a timeline of the president's historic medical trips for the past seven years:

▪️February 2016

President Buhari went for vacation and spent six days.

▪️June 6, 2016

President Buhari left Nigeria to treat an ear infection. It lasted 13 days.

▪️January 19, 2017

President Buhari wrote to the Senate on taking a 10-day vacation in the United Kingdom. Though the vacation was expected to start on January 23, 2017, President Buhari left for the UK same day. He did not return until 51 days after.

▪️May 8, 2017

Barely two months after President Buhari returned, he travelled to UK for medical attention. He remained in the UK till August 19, 2017, spending 104 days. 

▪️September 21, 2017

President Buhari made a detour from the U.S. to UK on medical grounds. He was there for four days.

▪️May 8, 2018

Again, President Buhari returned to UK for medical reasons, where he spent another four days.

▪️March 2021

President Buhari again went to the UK. The stay was longer. He was there for 15 days, having “routine medical check-up.”

▪️July 2021

President Buhari travelled from an education summit to medical treatment, lasting 14 days.

▪️March 6, 2022

President Buhari jetted out to London for a two-week medical trip, which lasted 12 days. 

▪️ October 31, 2022

President Buhari went to the UK and spent 14 days in ‘medical’ excursion.

Source:

https://guardian.ng/news/237-day-medical-trips-despite-buharis-pledge-to-cut-cost-presidential-fleet-racks-up-n64-15b/