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President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is due back to the country early next week after his medical treatment in Germany. The Special Adviser to the President on Communication, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Wiesbaden, Germany that the President had been following developments back home and has had to give directives in some cases.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is due back to the country early next week after his medical treatment in Germany.
The Special Adviser to the President on Communication, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Wiesbaden, Germany that the President had been following developments back home and has had to give directives in some cases.
Reacting to comments about the President's trip abroad, Adeniyi said: "There is nothing that precludes the president from seeking healthcare abroad. Even leaders in advanced countries do that.
"But I share the position that our country should be able to make travelling abroad for medicals, either for the President or any other citizen, a matter of choice rather than of necessity.
He said that the task before the President "is to ensure that the nation meets that critical challenge, by ensuring that every Nigerian has access to healthcare system that works and he is committed to doing that in the life of his administration."
Adeniyi said that the President had consistently argued that when the on-going reforms of NNPC are completed, "the huge funds that usually go into Joint Venture Cash Calls would be deployed into education and health, two areas he considers very important.
"But his efforts go beyond funding existing hospitals. For instance, I am aware of a panel working on the modalities for establishing first class diagnostic and cardiac centres in at least three Nigerian cities," he added.
Adeniyi said that the idea was for government to partner with local and some foreign investors with critical input from Nigerian experts in the Diaspora.
"There are also ongoing discussions with some internationally reputed medical groups interested in providing medical solutions in Nigeria under a private public partnership arrangement.
"So, the issue is not that the President is seeking medicals abroad but that he has responsibility for providing same for Nigerians at home, and I am very sure he will."