Nigerian president to visit London doctor regarding ear infection

The Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, is to take a 10-day holiday during which he will travel to London to see a doctor regarding a persistent ear infection, his spokesman said on Sunday.

It comes days after the 73-year-old former military ruler cancelled a trip to the restive Niger Delta region at the last minute. Last month, he pulled out of what would have been his first official trip to the commercial capital, Lagos.

"The president was examined by his personal physician and an ENT specialist in Abuja and was treated. Both Nigerian doctors recommended further evaluation purely as a precaution,” said spokesman Femi Adesina.

The statement also said the president would travel to London on Monday "to rest”.

Buhari took office in May 2015 after winning an election largely on his vows to crack down on corruption and end the insurgency waged by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in the northeast of Africa’s most populous nation, which also has the continent’s biggest economy.