Aisha Buhari, the First Lady of Nigeria, has revealed that the newly constructed N21 billion Presidential Wing at the State House Medical Centre will put an end to medical tourism for Nigerian presidents. The commissioning ceremony of the facility took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday, with President Muhammadu Buhari and other distinguished guests in attendance.
During the event, Mrs. Buhari expressed her delight, emphasizing that the state-of-the-art medical facility would eliminate the need for future presidents and their families to seek medical treatment abroad. She disclosed that the project was initiated six years ago after her husband’s consecutive three-month-long medical trips abroad.
Recognizing the abundance of medical expertise within Nigeria, Mrs. Buhari emphasized the importance of establishing a reliable platform for delivering high-quality healthcare services. The First Lady stressed the need for a dedicated medical center to specifically cater to the health needs of the First Family, as the existing facility was overburdened with serving approximately 35,000 individuals. Consequently, establishing the VIP Wing in close proximity to the presidential villa became a pressing priority.
When asked about the impact of the new medical center on future healthcare arrangements for Nigerian leaders, Mrs. Buhari affirmed that there would no longer be a need for overseas medical trips. Instead, the facility would welcome international medical experts to collaborate with Nigerian professionals, ensuring exceptional healthcare standards locally.
She stated that leaders would no longer need to spend months abroad for healthcare and that the new facility was designed for the health and wellness of the First Family, with the option of flying in experts to assist Nigerian professionals when necessary.
