Garba Shehu, media aide to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has shed light on why Buhari frequently travelled abroad for medical treatment. According to him, it wasn’t because the former president lacked trust in Nigeria’s medical system.

His clarification comes after recent comments by Femi Adesina, another former presidential spokesperson, who stated that Buhari might not have survived if he had relied solely on Nigerian hospitals. Adesina claimed Nigeria lacked the level of medical expertise needed to manage Buhari’s condition.

Speaking on Inside Sources, a programme on Channels Television, Shehu offered a different perspective. He said Buhari was constantly attended to by Nigerian medical professionals during his time in office.

Shehu dismissed claims that Buhari deliberately avoided local healthcare. He explained that Buhari had a Nigerian personal physician, and the State House clinic was run by an experienced and respected Nigerian doctor.

He further added that Buhari’s local medical team was always on hand to take care of his health needs, handling all urgent concerns and day-to-day care professionally.

While confirming that Buhari did continue to travel overseas for some treatments, Shehu said it was more about personal comfort and attachment to his longstanding medical routine abroad—not a rejection of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

To reinforce his point, Shehu highlighted the global reputation of Nigerian-trained doctors. He noted that many Nigerians who seek medical help abroad often end up being treated by Nigerian professionals in countries like the U.S.

Buhari passed away on July 13 in a London clinic after a long illness. He was laid to rest on July 15 at his home in Daura, Katsina State.