Buhari arrives in London for another fortnight of routine medical check-ups according to his aides

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in London for a two week consultation with his doctors in what his aides have described as a routine medical check-up that is certain to raise concerns about the state of his health.

Since assuming office in 2015, President Buhari has been plagued with health concerns, resulting in him spending a lot of time in the UK with his doctors. Yesterday, President Buhari jetted out of Nigeria, just a day before his scheduled appearance at a mining event in Abuja, which was organised to woo investors into Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

Presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina, said: “President Buhari leaves for London October 31, 2022, for a routine medical check-up. He returns to the country in the second week of November, 2022.”

This sudden trip has raised concerns about the president’s health and why the government cancelled his plans to attend and declare open the sixth edition of the Nigeria Mining Week today. This mining week was designed to showcase Nigeria’s potential in the sector and boost investors’ confidence in the under-performing solid mineral industry as part of efforts to diversify the nation’s economy.

Nigeria is expected to play a key role in the coming years as a producer of rare earth metals needed in electric vehicles and batteries as the world moves towards cleaner energy. Last week, the minister of mines and steel development, Olamilekan Adegbite, declared that President Buhari would grace the mining week in Abuja.

He added: “The government has been putting all its political will and weight behind the sustainable development of the mining sector and I am super excited to announce that as we aim to discuss the common challenges and share our success stories, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will declare the event open."

It is now likely that vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo ill stand in for the president at the event. This latest trip will be one of the several medical trips the president has embarked on since assuming office in 2015, spending over 200 days abroad since assuming office.