Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has criticized the federal government for its failure to establish a functional healthcare system. He described the consistent trend of medical tourism among Nigeria’s political leaders as shameful and indicative of a failure in leadership.
Speaking in a recent interview, Adeyanju condemned the increasing dependence on foreign medical treatment by Nigerian leaders, particularly as the country struggles with a failing health system that denies millions of citizens access to quality care.
He said, “It is shameful that after over 60 years of independence, Nigerian leaders still go abroad for medical treatment.
“What does it say about our priorities and values as a nation when those in power can’t even trust the hospitals they have built for their own people?”
His remarks follow the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari in a London hospital after a prolonged illness.
Buhari, during his presidency, was frequently criticised for spending extended periods abroad for medical care—a trend that continues under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, who has also reportedly travelled abroad for medical reasons on several occasions.
He added that “Nigerian politicians have turned foreign hospitals into their personal clinics while public hospitals at home are left in ruins.
“This is not just a failure of governance; it is an insult to the suffering masses who can’t afford even the most basic healthcare services.”
He further challenged the government to demonstrate leadership by investing in healthcare infrastructure that benefits all Nigerians, not just a privileged few.
“Fix Nigeria’s healthcare and build world-class hospitals,” he said. “It’s not rocket science. We have the resources; we have the doctors. What we lack is the political will.”
Adeyanju said the government must act swiftly to halt the embarrassing trend and rebuild public trust in the local health system.
“Enough of the hypocrisy. Let those in government use the same hospitals that the average Nigerian uses. If our leaders know how they will be treated here, they will fix the system.”
“This shame is becoming too much,” Adeyanju warned.
“The government must wake up and stop exporting its responsibilities to other countries while citizens die from preventable conditions.”