Lai says cost of Buhari medical bills could endanger national security if exposed

Nigeria’s Federal Government has insisted it would not divulge the cost of President Muhammadu Buhari medical bills in the United Kingdom because it could endanger national security.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed unequivocally declared this on Wednesday to newsmen after the closing of the Federal Executive Council weekly meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Following Buhari’s 50 days stay in London on medical vacation, many Nigerians both on individual and group levels, have continue to demand that he disclose the cost of his medical bills.

However, Mohammed when confronted with questions on the matter on Wednesday, said Federal Government was never going to do that and argued that the request should be considered on the basis of national security and morals.

“This matter (the cost of President Buhari medical bill) has come several times and our position on the matter is quite straight forward.

Read also: LAI MOHAMMED: ‘I don’t tell lies’

“What are the President’s conditions of service? What are his entitlements in terms of his well-being and health care? The state is supposed to take responsibility for these.

“We believe that asking for how much has been spent on the health of the President is an issue that we should weigh very well both for national security and also for moral issues. I don’t know why we must divulge such very sensitive information.

“I might be wrong but I don’t have experience elsewhere that the President of any country will be ill and be forced to disclose how much the state has spent on his health.

“Yes, there is Freedom of Information Act but it is also carved in such a way that when such information is likely to endanger national security, I think it is an area that is not covered,” he said.

Among Nigerians and groups demanding that President Buhari disclose cost of his medical bill in London include Professor Wole Soyinka; Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project; Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, and the Campaign for Democracy.

 

 

 

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