VIDEO: ‘It’s A Shame Nigerian Leaders Die Abroad, Are Flown Back As Cargo’ – Hon Ogah

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, has expressed deep concern over the continued reliance of Nigerian leaders on foreign healthcare, describing it as a national embarrassment.

He spoke in defense of his proposed bill, which seeks to bar public and civil servants from patronizing private schools and healthcare services, both in Nigeria and abroad.

Ogah, who represents Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, made the remarks during a live interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, referencing the recent death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose body was flown back to Nigeria after he died in a London hospital.

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“You are aware that a few days ago, our former president was flown back as cargo,” Ogah said. “Is it not a shame that at each point in time, our big men travel abroad for medical services? Are we not ashamed of it?”

The lawmaker decried the persistent neglect of public hospitals and schools by those in power, insisting that such a trend must be reversed through bold legislative reforms and a renewed commitment to fixing the system from within.

Ogah is the sponsor of the Private Institutions and Healthcare Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.2487), a legislative proposal aimed at compelling public officials and their families to utilize the same schools and healthcare facilities available to the general public. The bill has sparked national debate, drawing praise from transparency advocates and criticism from those concerned about its scope.

According to Ogah, the time has come for the political elite to restore public trust by subjecting themselves to the same institutions they are responsible for managing.

“If we get education and health right, there is a future for all of us,” he said. “But if we continue to abandon our institutions, we are not going anywhere.”

Over the years, several prominent Nigerian leaders have sought medical treatment abroad, with billions of naira spent annually on medical and educational tourism. Analysts say this has contributed to the erosion of public services, as government officials bypass domestic systems while the majority of citizens are left with underfunded and poorly managed facilities.

The recent passing of former President Buhari has reignited this conversation. The ex-leader reportedly died at a luxury medical facility in London, underscoring the widening gap between Nigeria’s elite and the ordinary populace when it comes to healthcare access.

Hon. Ogah believes that the only way to improve Nigeria’s failing public sectors is by enforcing accountability at the top.

“We must bring back the lost focus. We must fix the system. That is the only way forward,” he said.

The proposed bill is currently before the House of Representatives and is expected to receive further legislative attention in the coming weeks.