Buhari returned to Abuja on Friday because his engagements in Nairobi finished earlier, says Garba Shehu
The Presidency on Friday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical junket to the United Kingdom still subsists despite his surprising return to Nigeria from Kenya where he participated in the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) 50th anniversary event, rather than proceed from there to London as earlier planned.
On March 1, TheNiche reported that Buhari would desert his job, first jetting off to Kenya for four days, then to the United Kingdom “for a maximum of two weeks”, his fifth overseas travel this year alone – three of them amid fuel scarcity gripping Nigeria.
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The report was based on a previous statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, which indicated he would head to London from Nairobi after the UNEP event.
“From Kenya, President Buhari will proceed to London for routine medical checks that will last for a maximum of two weeks,” the statement had said.
But surprisingly, Buhari made a detour on Friday and returned to Nigeria without prior information.
But the presidency said there was nothing to worry about assuring that Buhari’s scheduled trip to the United Kingdom for medical checkup still stands.
The President touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja around 1 pm.
However, the Presidency has confirmed that the initial plans for the Buhari trip to London for his medical checks remain.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who spoke to The Nation, said: “Nothing has changed about his planned trip to London, it is still as earlier planned. He will leave for London on Sunday. There’s no need for any anxiety”.
Shehu explained Buhari returned to Abuja on Friday because his engagements in Nairobi finished earlier.