The recent death of veteran journalist Dr. Leon Usigbe and reports of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s final days in a high-end London hospital have reignited public anger and scrutiny over the controversial upgrade of Nigeria’s State House Clinic, a project that reportedly consumed billions of naira in taxpayers’ money but appears to have done little to stem the tide of medical tourism among top government officials.
The State House Clinic, located within the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was supposed to be transformed into a world-class medical facility capable of attending to the health needs of the nation’s highest-ranking officials. Officials at the time of the upgrade touted it as a bold step to drastically reduce the billions lost annually to medical tourism, particularly by the political elite and public officers.
But today, after massive budgetary allocations, the promised transformation seems to exist more on paper than in practice.
An Empty Upgrade?
Since 2016, the federal government has pumped an estimated ₦32.3 billion into the State House Clinic project under various guises, renovations, equipment procurement, staffing, and technological upgrades. Yet, Nigerians have continued to witness a disturbing trend: top government officials flying abroad for even routine medical checkups.
Just recently, former President Muhammadu Buhari, a vocal proponent of strengthening local healthcare during his administration, reportedly died in a London clinic where Nigeria was said to be footing a £3,500 daily medical bill. This, to many, was not just ironic but a glaring indictment of the failure of his government’s commitment to build trust in the country’s healthcare system.
Back home, a tragic case has also stirred new questions.
The Case of Dr. Leon Usigbe
Dr. Leon Habby Usigbe, the Abuja Bureau Chief of The Nigerian Tribune, was reportedly first taken to the State House Clinic when he suddenly fell ill earlier this month. Sources confirm that he was later referred to Asokoro General Hospital, and eventually to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, where he died.
The inability of the State House Clinic to handle Usigbe’s condition has raised fresh suspicions about the quality and availability of medical equipment, infrastructure, and personnel at the facility, despite the billions spent on its upgrade.
“Why should a clinic that reportedly gulped such vast amounts of public funds be unable to treat a journalist, let alone a head of state?” asked one angry health analyst. “It’s either the upgrade never happened, or it was grossly overstated.”
Medical Tourism Continues to Soar
Despite the declared aims of reducing overseas medical trips, Nigeria’s political elite continues to seek healthcare in Europe, the U.S., and parts of Asia. From routine diagnostics to advanced treatments, many government officials refuse to entrust their health to local institutions, even the so-called “upgraded” ones.
The cost is staggering. According to reports from health policy experts, Nigeria loses between $1.2 billion and $1.6 billion annually to medical tourism, a figure that could fund several tertiary hospitals or improve existing ones across the country.
A Call for Accountability
Civil society groups, health professionals, and watchdog organizations are now calling on the National Assembly to investigate the true state of the State House Clinic upgrade.
“This is not just about wasted funds; it’s about misplaced priorities and broken promises,” said Dr. Amina Lawal, a public health advocate. “If even those closest to power are not confident in the health system they’ve built, what hope is there for the average Nigerian?”
There are also questions about procurement processes, the quality of equipment purchased, the actual state of staffing, and whether the clinic has the capacity to meet international standards as claimed.
A Test of Political Will
The failure of the State House Clinic to serve its core constituency reflects a deeper crisis in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, one rooted in neglect, poor oversight, and a lack of accountability.
As the National Assembly begins its new legislative calendar, Nigerians are watching closely. Will lawmakers finally rise to the occasion and probe what increasingly appears to be a multi-billion-naira healthcare mirage? Or will this be yet another scandal buried in bureaucratic silence?
Whatever the case, the message from the public is clear: healthcare must work, not just for the poor, but for all. And any public project, especially one built on the promise of self-sufficiency, must deliver what it promised, or be held accountable.
