President Muhammadu
Buhari, 74, will take 10 days of medical leave from Monday, he has said in a
letter sent to the Senate, the upper house of parliament:
BBC
Africa Live report continues:
I
will be away on a short medical vacation from Monday January 23 to February
6th, 2017.
While
I am away, the vice-president will perform the functions of my office."
Mr
Buhari did not give details about what is wrong with him.
In
June last year, he flew to London to be treated for an ear infection.
A
leading Nigerian doctor has accused Mr Buhari of reneging on a promise to
end "medical tourism" by seeking treatment in the UK.
Nigerians
spent US$1bn (£690m) on foreign medical trips in 2013, most of which was
unnecessary, said Dr Osahon Enabulele.
Nigeria's Buhari 'Broke
Promise To End Medical Tourism'
BBC News reported a leading Nigerian doctor has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of reneging on a
promise to end "medical tourism" by seeking treatment in the UK.
Nigerians
spent US$1bn (£690m) on foreign medical trips in 2013, most of which was
unnecessary, said Dr Osahon Enabulele.
Nigerian
politicians were mostly treated by Nigerian doctors in the UK, he added.
Mr
Buhari flew to London on Monday to be treated for an ear infection.
It
is unclear where the 73-year-old would be treated for what his office described
as a "persistent" infection.
Dr
Enabulele, vice-president of the Commonwealth Medical Association, said it was
a "national shame" that Mr Buhari went to the UK for treatment when
Nigeria had more than 250 ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, as well as a
National Ear Centre.
Mr
Buhari should lead by example by using Nigerian doctors and facilities, and
ensure government officials do not go abroad on "frivolous" medical
trips, he added.
The
UK had more than 3,000 Nigerian-trained doctors, and the US more than 5,000, Dr
Enabule said, accusing the government of failing to address the brain drain by
improving working conditions and health centres.
Mr
Buhari, in a speech delivered on his behalf to the Nigeria Medical Association
in April, said the government's hard-earned cash would not be spent
on treating officials overseas, especially when Nigeria had the expertise.
Nigeria
is one of Africa's biggest oil producers but most of its citizens live in
poverty.
Mr Buhari took office last
year on a promise to tackle corruption and waste.
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