Buhari’s Death a Wake-Up Call to Fix Nigeria’s Healthcare System, Says Archbishop Martins
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has described the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari in a London hospital as a stark reminder for Nigerian leaders to urgently address the nation’s failing healthcare system. In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, the Archbishop expressed grief over Buhari’s passing while highlighting the persistent issue of medical tourism among Nigeria’s political elite, which he labeled a “national shame.”
“His death in a London hospital brings into focus again the need to develop healthcare delivery and facilities in our country to stem the tide of medical tourism,” Martins stated. He noted that this practice not only burdens those who can afford treatment abroad but exacerbates the suffering of ordinary Nigerians who lack access to adequate healthcare, leaving them feeling “abandoned to die from illnesses that are otherwise treatable.”
The Archbishop pointed out that Buhari’s death marks the second instance in recent history of a sitting or former Nigerian president passing away abroad due to medical complications. He referenced a past public complaint by former First Lady Aisha Buhari about the poor condition of the State House Clinic, questioning the implications for regular public hospitals. “If the First Lady could lament the state of the State House Clinic during their time in office, one can only imagine the condition of clinics and hospitals meant for the ordinary Nigerian,” he remarked.
Martins also decried the ongoing brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector, noting the irony that many Nigerians seeking treatment abroad are attended by Nigerian doctors who left the country due to poor working conditions. “The death of President Buhari should ginger our governments to act strategically and urgently to improve healthcare delivery in the country. It should also prompt a serious national dialogue on how to reverse the brain drain that continues to impoverish our health system,” he urged.
The cleric concluded by offering prayers for the repose of Buhari’s soul and comfort for his family and mourners, expressing hope that his death would spur meaningful reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure to benefit all citizens.
