Abuja, July 18, 2025 —
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has sharply criticized former presidential spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina, following his recent remarks suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari could have died in a Nigerian hospital if he had not sought medical care abroad during his tenure.
Adesina, who served as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Buhari, made the controversial statement while defending the former president’s frequent medical trips to the United Kingdom. He argued that the late president might not have survived without foreign medical attention, citing systemic challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
In a strongly worded response, the NMA described Adesina’s remarks as “an indictment on the administration he served” and a “clear admission of failure” to improve the country’s ailing health infrastructure.
Speaking in Abuja, NMA President, Dr. Bala Audu, condemned Adesina’s comments as insensitive to the sacrifices of Nigerian health professionals who continue to deliver care despite limited resources and poor working conditions.
“It is appalling and unacceptable for a top official of the past administration to publicly suggest that Nigerian hospitals were unfit to treat the same leader they served, especially after spending eight years in power,” Dr. Audu stated.
He stressed that the Buhari administration had ample opportunity to strengthen the health sector through increased funding, policy reforms, and improved healthcare infrastructure, but failed to deliver substantial improvements.
“The real issue here is not just Buhari’s medical trips abroad, but the neglect of the very institutions that the majority of Nigerians rely on for survival,” he added.
The NMA further urged the current administration to prioritize the health sector, increase budgetary allocations, and implement reforms that would restore public confidence in Nigerian medical facilities.
