The president has arrived in London, the United Kingdom where he is to undergo a routine medical check-up.

Since assuming office, President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on several trips to the UK to seek medical care. He, however, has not been to the UK since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president is expected back in the country in the second week of April.

Before his departure, President Buhari met with the service chiefs and ordered them to identify leaders of bandits and kidnappers and take them out to restore confidence and normalcy in the affected areas.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday travelled to London for a routine medical check-up.

He departed the Presidential Villa for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 2:30pm after which he proceeded to the United Kingdom.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President is expected back in the country in the second week of April.

Before he embarked on the medical trip, President Buhari met with the service chiefs at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.

At the meeting, he directed the service chiefs to identify the leaders of bandits and kidnappers and take them out to restore confidence in the areas affected.

He stated that the criminals would no longer dictate the tone of security in the country, adding that he was aware of plans by individuals who constitute themselves as authorities to undermine the efforts of the central government.

The National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, briefed reporters on issues discussed at the security meeting attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.

Others at the meeting included the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

It is unnecessary for President Muhammadu Buhari to transmit power to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, explained that President Buhari has not contravened the laws of the land by not transmitting power to Professor Osinbajo while away from the country for a number of days.

“He (Buhari) will continue from wherever he is,” Shehu said when asked if the President had transferred duties to the vice president.

He added, “The requirement of the law is that the President is going to be absent in the country for 21 days and more, then that transmission is warranted. In this particular instance, it is not warranted.”

Hours before the interview, President Buhari departed the Presidential Villa for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 2:30pm after which he proceeded to London for a routine medical check-up.

The Presidency had said the President was expected back in the country in the second week of April.

Before he embarked on the trip, President Buhari met with the service chiefs where he directed them to identify the leaders of bandits and kidnappers and take them out to restore confidence in the areas affected.

He stated that the criminals would no longer dictate the tone, adding that he was aware of plans by individuals who constitute themselves as authorities to undermine the efforts of the central government.

Since assuming office, the President has embarked on several trips to the United Kingdom to seek medical care, but he has not been to the country since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking about his principal’s condition, Shehu stressed that there was no emergency for the President to travel to London.

He insisted that the President was not sick in any way, adding that it was just a routine medical check-up just as he had done in the past.