During former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year administration, Nigerians spent an estimated29.29 billion on foreign medical treatments — an average of 3.6 billion annually, according to analysis of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data.
The CBN’s quarterly statistical bulletins, under the “Health-Related and Social Services” category, showed consistent outflows of foreign exchange from June 2015 to May 2023, coinciding with Buhari’s time in office. Despite pledges to reform the healthcare sector and reduce medical tourism, capital flight for health reasons remained high throughout the period.
In fact, Buhari’s first year in office saw the highest yearly spend — a staggering7.81 billion — with September 2015 alone recording $3.2 billion in outflows, the highest single-month total in the entire eight years.
The sustained level of spending reflects Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign healthcare services, raising questions about the effectiveness of health sector reforms during the Buhari administration.
