Former Nigerian Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s knee replacement surgery in India has triggered renewed criticism of Nigeria’s healthcare system, after an Indian hospital featured him in a promotional video highlighting his treatment.
Shalby Hospitals posted the video on its official X account around September 28, 2026, stating that Abdulsalami Abubakar underwent total knee replacement at Krishna Shalby Hospital in Ahmedabad. The video featured the former military leader as an international patient under the banner, “Clinical Excellence. Beyond Borders.”
The video gained wider attention after activist and 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore shared it on September 29, 2026, criticising the decision by Nigerian leaders and other prominent figures to seek specialised medical treatment abroad.
Key Highlights
- Former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar underwent total knee replacement surgery in India.
- Shalby Hospitals featured the former Nigerian leader in a promotional video about the procedure.
- Activist and 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore criticised the episode as evidence of longstanding weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
- The controversy has revived debate over medical tourism in Nigeria.
- Nigerian orthopaedic centres perform knee replacement procedures, although access to equipment, funding and specialist services remains a concern.
- Some Nigerians defended the right of individuals to seek medical treatment wherever they choose.
- The debate has renewed calls for stronger investment in Nigeria’s hospitals and specialist healthcare services.
Sowore Criticises Abdulsalami Abubakar’s Medical Treatment Abroad
Sowore shared the hospital’s promotional video on September 29, drawing attention to the use of the former Nigerian leader’s treatment in the hospital’s publicity.
In his commentary, Sowore argued that Nigerian leaders who had opportunities to improve the country’s healthcare system while in government have continued to seek treatment abroad.
He described the episode as a reflection of what he considers decades of poor leadership and neglect of Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
Sowore’s comments have contributed to a wider online debate over whether prominent Nigerians seeking treatment abroad should be viewed as a personal medical choice or as evidence of weaknesses in the country’s health system.
Nigerians React to Abdulsalami Abubakar’s India Surgery
The hospital video generated different reactions on social media.
Some Nigerians criticised the former military leader and other political elites for seeking treatment outside the country while public hospitals face challenges involving equipment, funding, specialist capacity and infrastructure.
Some commentators also questioned the decision by the Indian hospital to use the former Nigerian leader’s treatment as part of a promotional campaign.
Others took a different view, arguing that Abdulsalami Abubakar, like any other patient, has the right to choose where he receives medical care.
They said the focus should be on improving Nigeria’s healthcare institutions rather than criticising individuals for seeking treatment abroad.
Nigeria’s Medical Tourism Challenge
Nigeria has struggled with medical tourism for years, particularly in areas requiring specialised treatment.
India has become an important destination for Nigerian and other African patients seeking procedures such as joint replacements and other specialist treatments. Indian hospitals have developed international-patient services and often attract patients because of their medical infrastructure, specialist capacity and comparatively lower costs than some Western destinations.
Nigeria also has orthopaedic specialists and facilities capable of performing total knee replacement procedures.
The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, is among the country’s established orthopaedic institutions. Other public and private hospitals have also expanded their capacity to provide specialised orthopaedic care.
Healthcare professionals have repeatedly called for greater investment in medical equipment, specialist training, hospital infrastructure and retention of doctors to reduce the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad.
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Abdulsalami Abubakar’s Previous Health Concerns
Abdulsalami Abubakar served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1998 to 1999 and supervised the transition to civilian government in 1999.
The former leader has previously spoken publicly about health-related challenges affecting his mobility.
In 2022, reports indicated that he had cancelled birthday activities because of knee-related mobility problems and that doctors had recommended specialist treatment outside Nigeria.
Separate reports in 2025 also placed the former Head of State in a London hospital around the period of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s final illness.
Medical Tourism Debate Renewed
The controversy surrounding Abdulsalami Abubakar’s knee surgery has once again placed Nigeria’s healthcare system and medical tourism under public scrutiny.
Critics argue that Nigeria needs sustained investment in hospitals, diagnostic equipment, specialist services, medical education and healthcare infrastructure if the country is to reduce dependence on foreign hospitals.
Others maintain that patients should remain free to choose where they receive medical treatment, particularly when specialised services or personal preferences are involved.
As of late September 2026, neither Abdulsalami Abubakar nor his representatives had issued a detailed public response to the hospital’s promotional use of his treatment or the criticism that followed.
The debate has nevertheless highlighted a longstanding concern in Nigeria: whether the country’s healthcare system can provide specialist medical services at a standard that gives citizens, including former national leaders, sufficient confidence to seek treatment at home.
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