EXCLUSIVE: Two Former Nigerian Leaders, Abdulsalami, Buhari Sick And Dying In London – Source

A former Nigerian Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former president, Muhammadu Buhari, are currently hospitalised and in life-threatening, critical conditions in London, the United Kingdom, a top source confirmed to SaharaReporters on Saturday. 

SaharaReporters learnt further from the Presidency source that the two former Heads of state "are dying and dealing with undisclosed illnesses" also worsened by their old age.

"The former Head of State, Abdusalami, has been hospitalised in the UK for over five months now," he revealed.

"On the other hand, Buhari has been in and out of the Intensive Care Unit of UK hospitals in recent week," he added.

SaharaReporters on Friday reported that President Bola Tinubu dispatched the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to visit the ailing leaders and seek to support their treatments.

Though no disclosure about their health situation was made, SaharaReporters learnt from the Presidency source that former president Buhari "has an intestinal disorder that is killing him quietly while Abdusalam has age-related illnesses."

Shettima had been in Ethiopia on the invitation of Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, attending the launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative and holding discussions on agricultural development.

But a source had noted that once Tinubu learnt of Buhari’s health condition, he immediately instructed the Vice President to divert his travel plans and see the former leader.

The source said the President wanted Shettima to convey his goodwill message, ensure Buhari’s needs were being met and report back on his recovery.

Buhari's former aide, Bashir Ahmad, had dismissed reports that he was in intensive care.

Ahmad stated on X: “In light of the recent media reports suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari is critically ill and has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), we find it necessary to set the record straight.

“It is true that former President Buhari is unwell and is currently receiving medical attention. However, contrary to the exaggerated claims circulating in the media, he is stable and responding well to treatment and we are optimistic about his full recovery.

“We appreciate the outpouring of prayers and goodwill from his supporters and well-wishers around the world. We continue to pray for his complete and speedy recovery.”

According to the source, Shettima arrived in London in the early hours of Monday, spent hours with Buhari at the hospital and linked him up with Tinubu over the phone.

The Vice President reportedly also used the opportunity to visit former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was also in London recuperating.

The source said: “Vice President Kashim Shettima flew to London on Sunday night, arriving in the early hours of Monday. He visited the former President in the hospital and spent hours with him after delivering President Tinubu’s message of concern and wishes for a quick recovery.

“As a matter of fact, I think the Vice President connected both the President and his predecessor on a call before leaving the ailing former President. I am told he also visited former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, who at the time was also in London recuperating.”

However, the visit remained under wraps. When asked about it, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, said he was aware Shettima had travelled but could not confirm whether he met the two former leaders.

“I do not know where you got your story from. I am just hearing about General Buhari and General Abdulsalam Abubakar’s visit from you. Anyway, yes, the VP was in London but on a purely private visit and came back to Nigeria the same Monday,” he said.

“And since it was a private visit which I was not privy to, his engagements or lack thereof would remain in the realm of speculation, and hence the publicising or not of such a visit cannot come up.”

Buhari’s health has long attracted public interest, especially during his presidency when his London medical trips were a recurring feature, including one that lasted 104 days.

During his eight-year tenure as Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari became widely known for his frequent foreign medical trips, particularly to the United Kingdom. These trips, often shrouded in secrecy, sparked national debate and criticism, especially given Buhari’s earlier campaign promises to end medical tourism and improve Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Buhari’s first known medical trip occurred in February 2016, less than a year into his presidency. Officially described as a short vacation, it was later revealed that he had also sought medical attention during his stay in London.

Just a few months later, in June 2016, he returned to the UK for treatment of an ear infection. This trip drew criticism from the Nigerian Medical Association, which pointed out that Nigeria had qualified specialists capable of handling such a condition.
The most significant and controversial of Buhari’s medical absences began in January 2017, when he left Nigeria for what was described as a “medical vacation.”

He remained in London for 50 days, returning in March.

Barely two months later, in May 2017, he departed again for further treatment and stayed abroad for an unprecedented 104 days.

The nature of his illness was never officially disclosed, fueling speculation and concern about the president’s capacity to govern. During this period, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo served as acting president.

In 2018, Buhari made another brief medical trip to London in May, reportedly for a follow-up consultation. After a relatively quiet period, he resumed his medical visits in 2021, travelling to the UK in March for a routine check-up.

This trip coincided with a strike by Nigerian doctors, highlighting the irony of the president seeking care abroad while the domestic healthcare system was in crisis. He returned to London again in June and July of that year for further treatment.

In 2022, Buhari made at least two more medical trips to the UK, one in March and another in October. These visits were described as routine medical check-ups.
His final known medical trip as president occurred in May 2023, shortly after attending the coronation of King Charles III.

He reportedly extended his stay in London to undergo a dental procedure.
In total, Buhari is believed to have spent over 230 days abroad for medical reasons during his presidency.

The financial cost of these trips, particularly the operation and maintenance of the presidential jet, was estimated by some media outlets to range between ₦1.1 billion and ₦5.4 billion.

These figures do not include the cost of medical care, accommodation, or the accompanying delegation.

The president’s reliance on foreign healthcare drew sharp criticism from civil society groups, medical professionals, and political opponents. Many viewed it as a betrayal of his campaign promises and a stark symbol of the government’s neglect of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.

Dr. Osahon Enabulele, then president of the World Medical Association, described the situation as a “national shame,” while opposition figures like human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, lambasted Buhari for failing to build a single world-class hospital in Nigeria throughout his tenure.
 
Despite the backlash, Buhari remained largely unapologetic about his medical travels, often citing the need for continuity in treatment and the importance of trust in his long-time UK-based doctors.
 
His administration offered little transparency about the specifics of his health, reinforcing a culture of secrecy around the medical conditions of Nigerian leaders.