Nigerians Don’t Need To Travel Abroad For Medical Treatment — Chris Ngige

Nigerians do not need to travel abroad for health care, according to Labour Minister Chris Ngige, because medical treatment at Nigerian hospitals is “fairly Okay.” Meanwhile, his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, is receiving treatment in London.

Mr Buhari has spent nearly 200 days away from Nigeria on medical tourism since taking office six years ago.

Mr. Ngige’s declaration comes at a time when the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is on indefinite strike across the country.

Mr Ngige claimed on Channels TV on Friday that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has put significant resources into the Nigerian health sector, and that Nigerians do not need to travel overseas for healthcare, save for those who can afford it.

“What are you going abroad to do, the expertise is here (in Nigeria),” Mr Ngige said. “Plenty of billions has gone into health.”

“For me, if you have the means and you want to do a second opinion abroad, why not? It is permitted.

“On an average note, medical treatment here is fairly okay as far as I am concerned,” he added.

Mr. Ngige, a medical practitioner, went on to state, “I use the National Hospital (in Abuja), my card is there; I use the State House clinic for my eyes; I use another private hospital here.” Previously, first lady Aisha Buhari had claimed that the State House Clinic lacked basic drugs to treat patients.

Furthermore, the State House Clinic has been downgraded, according to President Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, who also stated that Mr Buhari travels abroad for medical care because he only trusts his long-time London-based doctors who are familiar with his medical history and records.