President Tinubu earlier this week directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to London to check on former President Muhammadu Buhari, following reports that the former Nigerian leader was receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the UK, has reliably gathered
Shettima had been in Ethiopia on the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to attend the official launch of the country’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI). While there, he also used the opportunity to study Ethiopia’s achievements in agriculture.
A source familiar with the matter told ThisDay that upon learning of Buhari’s hospitalization, Tinubu—who was scheduled to depart for St. Lucia—immediately instructed Shettima to fly to London, assess Buhari’s condition firsthand, and report back to him.
Reports had recently emerged that Buhari had fallen ill and was receiving medical care. While some claimed the 81-year-old was in intensive care, his former Special Assistant on Digital Communications, Bashir Ahmad, denied those claims last Thursday. Ahmad confirmed that Buhari was unwell but emphasized that he was stable and responding well to treatment.
“In light of the recent media reports suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari is critically ill and has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), we find it necessary to set the record straight,” Ahmad wrote on X.
“It is true that former President Buhari is unwell and is currently receiving medical attention. However, contrary to the exaggerated claims circulating in the media, he is stable and responding well to treatment. We are optimistic about his full recovery.”
Ahmad added that Buhari’s supporters and well-wishers have continued to offer prayers and messages of goodwill for his speedy recovery.
According to the source, Vice President Shettima arrived in London in the early hours of Monday. He reportedly spent hours with Buhari at the hospital, conveyed Tinubu’s message of concern, and facilitated a phone call between both leaders.
“The Vice President flew into London on Sunday night and visited the former President in the hospital on Monday. He spent time with him, relayed President Tinubu’s well wishes, and even connected both men on a call before leaving,” the source said.
“Shettima also used the opportunity to visit former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who is also in London recovering from an illness.”
Although the visit was not made public, when contacted about it, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, confirmed that Shettima had traveled to London but declined to confirm the visits to Buhari or Abdulsalami.
“Yes, the VP was in London, but it was a purely private visit and he returned to Nigeria on Monday,” Nkwocha said. “As it was a private trip, I wasn’t privy to his schedule. Whether he visited anyone or not is speculative.”
Buhari’s health was frequently a subject of national discussion during his presidency, particularly during his extended medical visits to London—most notably a 104-day stay in 2017.
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