By Fresh Facts Magazine
The London Clinic, one of Britain’s most prestigious private hospitals, has drawn intense attention following the death of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, at the facility on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
According to family sources, Buhari had been receiving treatment at the Clinic for months before his sudden demise. Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was also on admission at the time, was successfully discharged.
Speaking with ThisDay, Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, revealed that the former President appeared in good spirits on Saturday, July 12, and was preparing for discharge. “I left him around 9pm on Saturday. He was looking forward to seeing his doctor the next day. But by midday Sunday, he developed breathing complications. Despite efforts to revive him, he passed at 4:30pm,” Daura recounted.
The cause of death was not disclosed, though Buhari had a long-standing history of health issues. Reports indicate he spent considerable time in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Clinic.
His death was announced by his former spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, who stated, “The family of the former President has announced his passing this afternoon in a London clinic. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus.”
Following the announcement, footage surfaced online of Buhari’s children and close relatives visiting the hospital, located in London’s upscale Harley Street medical district.
The London Clinic: Where the World’s Elite Seek Treatment
Founded in 1932, The London Clinic is among the UK’s most elite medical centres, with a global clientele that includes political leaders, royalty, and the ultra-wealthy. The hospital is renowned for its expertise in cancer treatment, orthopaedics, gastroenterology, neurosurgery, robotic surgery, and intensive care services.
The Clinic treats over 120,000 patients annually, supported by more than 900 medical specialists. Facilities include 13 ICU beds, 10 operating theatres, and five Macmillan Cancer Support Centres.
Speaking anonymously to Saturday PUNCH, a UK-based Nigerian doctor familiar with the hospital described it as a top-tier facility with “world-class medical capabilities, high-profile clients, and advanced diagnostic technologies.” He disclosed that ICU stays cost between £3,000 and £3,500 per night, with standard rooms priced from £1,000 to £1,800, and VIP suites going as high as £2,500 per night.
Consultations at the Clinic range between £100 and £750, while CT scans cost about £500. Major surgeries, according to the doctor, typically fall within the £10,000 to £13,000 range.
Another Nigerian doctor practicing in the UK described the facility as “the best and largest private clinic in the UK,” equipped with cutting-edge tools like the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, ExcelsiusGPS, NAVIO robotics, 3T Siemens MRI, PET-CT scanners, and advanced ultrasound and mammography machines. She emphasized that “discretion, luxury, and top-level expertise” are hallmarks of care at the Clinic.
Despite these high costs, the Clinic is also known to cater to international patients sponsored by their governments or private organizations. While the Nigerian government has not confirmed whether it footed the bill for Buhari’s care, Nigeria’s law on Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (and Other Ancillary Matters) mandates the government to provide medical care for former presidents and their families, both locally and abroad.
High-Cost Medical Tourism and Domestic Irony
Buhari’s passing at The London Clinic reignited debates over Nigeria’s deep-rooted medical tourism culture—especially among its political elite. In 2021, Buhari himself approved the construction of a 14-bed Presidential VIP wing at the State House Clinic in Abuja, with an estimated budget of ₦21 billion. By March 2022, the government had released ₦10.06 billion for the project, which was reportedly 80% complete.
Nevertheless, Buhari’s successor, President Bola Tinubu, has continued the trend of medical travel, notably frequenting France for treatment since assuming office.
Investigations by Saturday PUNCH show that the Nigerian government may have spent at least ₦13.4 billion on foreign medical trips for Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua over a 16-year span. These trips were financed through State House budgets and foreign engagement allocations.
Buhari alone reportedly spent no fewer than 225 days abroad for medical reasons during his presidency. His first trip was in February 2016, lasting six days. This was followed by numerous others, including his longest—104 days in 2017. He embarked on additional medical trips in 2018, 2021, 2022, and finally, his last visit to London in April 2025.
Despite strong public criticism, Buhari’s aides defended these trips. Femi Adesina, his former spokesman, said the former President had relied on the same medical team for over 40 years. “If he had opted for treatment in Nigeria just for show, he could have died long ago,” Adesina stated in a recent interview.
A Legacy of Neglect
Buhari’s reliance on foreign healthcare mirrors the actions of his predecessors. Late President Yar’Adua spent 109 days abroad for medical treatment during his 32-month tenure. Between 2007 and 2009, the government spent ₦2.4 billion on his international travels, many of them medical.
Goodluck Jonathan also embarked on extensive international travel during his presidency, including at least 45 days in 2012 alone. Between 2010 and 2015, the government spent a total of ₦4.9 billion on his foreign travels and transport.
Medical Associations React
The continued trend of medical tourism among Nigerian leaders has been condemned by major medical associations in the country. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have called it “a betrayal” of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Dr. Tope Osundara, President of NARD, lamented, “It’s like building a factory, then refusing to use its products. It reflects a fundamental failure in leadership and accountability.”
He noted that Buhari himself once suggested a ban on medical tourism for public officials, yet remained one of its most prominent participants. “Even Abdulsalami Abubakar confirmed that he and Buhari were admitted in the same hospital. That alone is a huge indictment on our system,” Osundara added.
Final Thoughts
The death of Muhammadu Buhari in a £3,500-a-day private London hospital once again highlights the deep divide between Nigeria’s ruling elite and the majority of its citizens. While ordinary Nigerians struggle with underfunded public hospitals, those in power continue to seek care in the best facilities overseas.
Buhari’s final moments may be remembered not just for where he died, but for what his death symbolizes—a nation still grappling with the consequences of medical neglect, systemic decay, and leadership choices made far from home.
