The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, said the new N21billion presidential wing of the National Assembly Medical Center would eliminate the need for future presidents and their families to seek medical treatment abroad.
Mrs Buhari said this on Friday, May 19, 2023, at the inauguration of the facility at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, alongside her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, and other dignitaries.
She revealed that she first came up with the idea for the presidential wing in 2017 after her husband had been in London for an extended period of time for treatment. It will be recalled that the President made a 104-day medical pilgrimage to London, the longest of his tenure.
Once the facility is ready, the outgoing first lady said the Nigerian president and his family are likely to send medical experts to Abuja to assist their colleagues instead of making the expensive trip.
She said: “I am so happy and feel so satisfied. Even though we are traveling, we still thank God that this project has become a reality.
“I chose it for six years. I started the program six years ago when my husband was abroad for three months, 90 days in a row. It should not be because we have all the experts in Nigeria. We just need a good platform.
“The hospital that was supposed to serve the first family serves about 35,000 people, which is quite a lot. That’s why I insisted that we have a VIP building near the presidential villa.”
When asked if the medical center will now save Nigerian leaders from having to seek treatment abroad, she said: “Yes! It is for the health of the family first. They don’t have to go abroad now. They just need to send experts to help our people. you know.
“So no leader has to spend months abroad for healthcare.”
