Nigerian lawmaker Amobi Ogah has described as “shameful” the trend of the country’s leaders seeking medical treatment abroad only to die and be repatriated as “cargo.”
The House of Representatives member made the statement while defending his proposed bill to prohibit public and civil servants, including their families, from patronising private schools and healthcare facilities.
His remarks followed the recent death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose body was flown back to Nigeria after he passed away in a high-end London clinic.
Ogah, who represents Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, argued that Nigeria’s elite class has neglected public institutions by opting for private and foreign alternatives, leading to their decay.
“Is it not a shame that at each point in time, our big men travel outside for medical services?” he questioned during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He emphasised that fixing the country’s education and healthcare systems is crucial for national progress, stating, “If we don’t find a way to restore public trust in these institutions, we are not going anywhere”.
The proposed bill, titled Private Institutions and Healthcare Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, aims to compel government officials to use public schools and hospitals, thereby improving service standards through direct accountability.
Amobi Ogah noted that Nigeria’s founding leaders, including Sir Ahmadu Bello and Nnamdi Azikiwe, were products of public education, contrasting their legacy with the current elite’s preference for private and foreign services.
Ogah also highlighted the economic toll of medical and educational tourism, citing data showing that Nigerians spent over $29 billion on overseas healthcare during Buhari’s eight-year presidency, while $218 million was spent on foreign education in 2023 alone. He argued that redirecting such funds into local institutions could revitalise them.
The bill has passed its first reading in the House of Representatives and is expected to face further debate.
Supporters believe it could force public officials to prioritise institutional reforms, while critics warn it may infringe on personal freedoms. Regardless, Amobi Ogah’s push underscores growing public frustration over Nigeria’s deteriorating public services and the perceived hypocrisy of its ruling class.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
