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![Tinubu arrives Lagos for Christmas break [Presidency]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'100'%20height%3D'100'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Tinubu arrives Lagos for Christmas break [Presidency]")
The president departed Nigeria on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 and is due back in Nigeria on Saturday, May 12, 2018 if all goes according to plan.
The New York Times writes that: “The president is scheduled to return to Nigeria on Saturday, at which point he will have spent more than 170 days in London on official medical leave since becoming president in 2015”.
Here’s a timeline of Buhari’s health travels
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February 5, 2016
Buhari embarks on a six-day medical vacation to London.
June 6, 2016
Buhari takes to the skies for a 10-day medical vacation.
Presidency says Buhari has to travel to deal with a “persistent ear infection”.
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January 19, 2017
Buhari is off to London again on a medical vacation.
February 5, 2017
Buhari writes the national assembly, asks lawmakers to extend his London medical leave.
March 10, 2017
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Buhari returns to Nigeria but doesn’t resume work immediately. Presidency says “he’s working from home”.
May 7, 2017
Buhari embarks on trip to London for another medical vacation. He returns after 104 days.
August 19, 2017
Buhari returns to Nigeria and it takes him a while to resume work because rats have reportedly damaged furniture in his office.
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Presidency announces he’ll be working from home.
May 8, 2018
Buhari is off to London for “medical review”—another name for a medical vacation.
It is his 5th medical trip since he was inaugurated president on May 29, 2015.
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In April 2016, Buhari told the nation that he isn't a fan of medical tourism and that he won't encourage the political class to take to the skies for medical reasons either.
“While this administration will not deny anyone of his or her fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard-earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria", Buhari said, according to a statement from the Health Ministry at the time.
