President Muhammadu Buhari will spend an additional week in London for teeth treatment before returning to Nigeria.
In a statement released late on Tuesday, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, said the delay in Buhari’s return is at the “behest” of his dentist. The specialist requires to see the President in another five days for a procedure already commenced, Adesina said.
President Buhari had joined other world leaders in the UK on May 3, to attend the coronation of King Charles lll on May 6, 2023.
According to a statement by the State House last Wednesday morning, President Buhari would first attend the Commonwealth Summit for Presidents and Heads of Government of Commonwealth countries on Friday, May 5, 2023, in London.
“President Muhammadu Buhari will depart for London, UK later today, Wednesday, May 3 to join other world leaders invited to attend the coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, on Saturday, May 6.
“Ahead of the coronation, the Commonwealth Secretariat will take advantage of the gathering of leaders in London to host a Commonwealth Summit for Presidents and Heads of Government of Commonwealth countries on Friday, May 5.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to participate in the Summit which will deliberate on the Future of the Commonwealth and the Role of the Youth,” the statement had read.
The president was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd); Director General, National Intelligence Agency, (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Chairperson/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and other senior government officials.
President Buhari is expected to handover power to the president-elect on May 29.
