Buhari arrives in London today for 10-day private vacation thought to involve medical check-up

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will arrive in the UK today for a 10-day visit which is being described as private by presidency officials although they have not confirmed that it is for medical reasons.

Every year, President Buhari takes his annual leave in the UK, where he comes for medical check-ups and for treatment on an undisclosed ailment. In August 2017, President Buhari spent 105 days in the UK recovering, during which period he stayed at Abuja House in London.

That was the second lengthy spell he spent outside the country in 2017 and during both periods, he handed over authority to vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo. Last year too, he came to the UK for a four-day medical trip that involved him spending time with his doctors who requested that he return to see them.

Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari will leave Nigeria for the UK from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he will be going for an official engagement. He added that yesterday, President Buhari was in Lagos and is continuing his working tour of the country, after which he will proceed on leave.

Mr Adesina said: “Further to the official visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos on Wednesday where he commissioned a number of projects executed by the state government, he is scheduled to depart for Maiduguri, the Borno State capital for another official visit, today, Thursday. He is expected to commission developmental projects especially in the sectors of education, healthcare and roads.

“At the end of the visit, President Buhari will be proceeding to the United Kingdom on a private visit. He is expected to return to Nigeria on May 5.”

It is expected that while in London, President Buhari will stay at Abuja House, the official residence of the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK. So far, it is not yet clear if President Buhari has written to the National Assembly handing over authority to Professor Osinbajo.