The medical vacation of President Muhammadu Buhari in London is still a
trending topic in Nigeria.
It has been a total of 103 days since President Muhammadu Buhari left
Nigeria for a second medical vacation in the United Kingdom, and he
returned on Saturday, the 19th day of August, 2017. His arrival ushered
in praises from his followers both from the North and South.
President Buhari has undoubtedly broken many records and set new ones. And
now, many Nigerians are worried about Nigeria, with Buhari and the
efficiency and drive to move Nigeria forward.
President Buhari’s National broadcast to Nigerians was centered on the
unity of Nigeria, and other top national issues without making a statement
on his health status.
Upon Buhari’s return from London to Nigeria, his country men and women are
beginning to question the cost of the president’s medical vacation in
London.
Upon Buhari’s return from London to Nigeria, his country men and women are
beginning to question the cost of the president’s medical vacation in
London.
According to sources, President Muhammadu Buhari spent between £200 and
£250 per hour, for medical services in the United Kingdom.
The first Nigerian to embark on such luxury visit was the acting president
Yemi Osinbajo, followed by the wife of the president, Aisha Buahri which
many argued would not necessarily be called a visitor to the President but
had also visited her husband on several occasions in the last 103 days and
thereafter left for Saudi Arabia to pray for him.
Five governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) including the
party chairman, John Oyegun and Aviation Minister Rotimi Amaechi visited
President Buhari.
Barely 48 hours after their departure from London, another six PDP
governors drawn from six geo-political regions of the country also paid
the president a one-day visit.
The media aides of President Buhari were also not left out.
Among the numerous and luxury visitations to London were the Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives,
Hon, Yakubu Dogara.
Many pundits have argued that the many London trips by government
officials and some politicians constitute a strain on public finances and
Nigeria’s already troubled foreign exchange situation. They felt a video
transmission of a Buhari from London would have solved the political
tension raised over time.
According to our reporter, findings from the market shows that a First
Class return ticket to London now cost N3.4million on the low side and as
much as N5.1million, if on the high side.
For instance, a First-Class seat on British Airways cost between
N3.6million to N5.1million depending on the travel agency of choice and
time of booking. Other carriers like Emirates offer similar fares of
between N3.5million and N4.7million. On Kenya Airways, a Lagos-London
First Class cost about N4million.
A Business Class ticket for the same route costs between N887, 000 and
N1.1million depending on the time of booking and airline of choice.
Economy Class, which is the last hope of the flying masses ranges from
N215, 000 to N360, 000 on Lagos-London route.
Meanwhile, most Nigerian politicians, who visited metropolitan London,
lodged at Hilton Hotel on Parklane, which is 17 minutes’ drive from the
Abuja house where president Buhari was accommodated.
The least room rate at Hilton is 332 pounds per night. But Hilton
Cosmopolitan Suite is considered the preference of most Nigerian VIPs.
Currently, the rate is 2000 pounds per night. At N411 to a pound, each
visitor spent over N800, 000 per night.
It was gathered that it is international practice for aircrafts to be
charged for parking after the first two hours of landing in an airport.
To this end, the federal government had paid parking charges on the
Presidential Jet that conveyed Mr. President and his entourages to London
since they left the country and upon his return.
According to viral reports online, it costs a whopping £4000 (N1.6m) every
24 hours to use a parking lot in London.
To calculate the cost, the president stayed 103 days in London and
calculating how much spent already based on N400/1 pound, President Buhari
has spent a whooping N160,000,000.00 on aircraft alone.
Furthermore, the cost of maintaining Buhari’s personal physicians,
courtiers and entourages in foreign currencies has further deplete the
foreign reserve.
For his continued stay in power, the presidency allegedly sponsored three
pro-Buhari groups with a sum of 20 million Naira each. According to
sources and the opposition political parties, the protesters protested in
favour of Buhari’s government and policies.
The pro-Buhari protesters also countered the anti-Buhari protests across
the country.
To this end, President Buhari’s indefinite medical trip has cost Nigeria a
heart-breaking sum of tax payers money in the last 103 days.
Gbenga edits AljazirahNigeria Newspapers, Tweets @gbengaodunsii
Gbenga Odunsi