₦21bn Presidential Clinic Can’t Cure Nigerian Politicians’ Love For Foreign Treatment – Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has criticized the love of Nigerian politicians and leaders for foreign medical treatment.

The former lawmaker in his submission said they have an obsession for foreign doctors and medical tourism.

Sani made the submission in a post via his Twitter handle on Monday where he reacted to plans by the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari to spend ₦21bn on renovating the presidential clinic in Aso Rock and adding some additional wings.

He argued that no matter the upgrade, the mindset of the politicians and leaders remain steadfast on foreign medical trips.

He wrote, “No matter how much is spent to upgrade and equip the Presidential Clinic, it will never change their obsession with foreign Doctors and foreign clinics.”

Sani made the writing as a direct reaction to the decision of the federal government to spend ₦21billion for the construction of the proposed 14-bed Presidential Clinic, also known as Aso Rock Clinic.

The Permanent Secretary, State House, Umar Tijjani, made this known in October while presenting the 2022 budget for Aso Rock to members of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Tijjani said that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the construction of the clinic by Julius Berger Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Procurement has approved the Certificate of No Objection.

According to him, the physical construction of the clinic would start on November 1, 2021, while the commissioning would be done on December 31, 2022.

He stated the clinic would contain 14-bed facilities on a total area of 2,700 square meters, adding that there would also be underground, the first floor, two number operating theatre,

The construction of the presidential wing of the State House Clinic was inaugurated on Monday, November 1 by the president’s Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.