The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has strongly criticized former presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, for what it described as disparaging and insensitive remarks about Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The backlash follows Adesina’s recent comments during a televised interview, in which he implied that former President Muhammadu Buhari would have died earlier had he not sought medical treatment abroad.
Adesina attributed Buhari’s survival to foreign medical intervention, specifically in the United Kingdom, stating that Nigerian hospitals lacked the modern facilities and expertise necessary to treat the late president's undisclosed ailment. The comments have sparked outrage among healthcare professionals and civil society advocates.
Reacting during an interview with Daily Post, Dr. Diamond Tamunokuro, Chairman of the NMA in Rivers State, expressed deep disappointment, stating that Adesina’s remarks not only insulted Nigerian healthcare workers but also showed contempt for millions of citizens who rely on local hospitals for both basic and specialist care.
“It’s offensive to hear such comments from someone who served in the highest levels of government,” Dr. Tamunokuro said. “There are Nigerians today who receive treatment within the country and go on to live longer, healthier lives—even longer than the late President Buhari did.”
He went on to describe Adesina’s remarks as an indirect admission of failure by the very administration the former media aide represented.
“If Mr. Adesina claims that the Nigerian health sector was too broken to save Buhari, then he is also saying intentionally or not that the government he served under did absolutely nothing to improve it,” he said.
Dr. Tamunokuro emphasized that doctors across Nigeria are making tremendous sacrifices on a daily basis, working under difficult conditions to care for patients and strengthen the nation's healthcare delivery. According to him, the solution is not to seek treatment overseas but to invest in the domestic health sector so that every Nigerian, regardless of status, can access quality care.
“Instead of flying abroad at the slightest health scare, our leaders should commit to improving local healthcare infrastructure using public funds,” he stated. “We need an enabling environment—functional hospitals, modern equipment, and motivated personnel.”
He criticized political elites for perpetuating a system where public healthcare is neglected while leaders routinely travel abroad for medical services funded by taxpayer money.
“It’s shameful that rather than fix what is broken, they abandon it entirely. We expect more accountability,” he said. “Nigerians must start asking tough questions—do these politicians really care about the people, or are they just enriching themselves while the rest suffer?”
The Rivers NMA Chairman concluded by highlighting the growing capacity of Nigeria’s healthcare sector, noting that the range and quality of services available have improved despite challenges.
“Healthcare delivery in Nigeria is expanding. Our doctors are skilled. Our citizens are receiving quality care. What we need is sincere political will and investment—not blame and abandonment.”
Dr. Tamunokuro’s comments echo the sentiments of many within the healthcare profession, who have long lamented the government’s failure to prioritize health sector development. Calls for reform have intensified in recent years as Nigerian doctors continue to protest poor funding, lack of equipment, and a brain drain driven by better opportunities abroad.
The controversy surrounding Adesina’s remarks has reignited a broader national conversation about the state of public healthcare and the double standards of political elites who neglect local systems while benefitting from medical tourism—often at the public’s expense.
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