President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing visit to Saint Lucia has stirred quiet speculation across Nigeria, with insider sources revealing that the trip may be serving a dual purpose: diplomacy and discreet medical consultation. While the presidency maintains that the visit is in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, SaharaReporters has learned that behind the public smiles and handshakes lies a carefully orchestrated effort to shield the president’s health status from media scrutiny.
Sources close to the matter disclosed that the Caribbean island was chosen not just for diplomatic outreach, but also for its strategic convenience—thanks to Gilbert Chagoury, a close ally of the president and Honorary Consul of Saint Lucia to the Vatican. Chagoury is said to have played a key role in coordinating the visit, just as he reportedly did with Tinubu’s earlier appearance at the Vatican for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in May 2025.
“It’s a clever decoy,” a source told SaharaReporters. “Saint Lucia offers the perfect setup—far from the reach of Nigerian journalists, yet logistically smooth enough for the president’s medical team to convene with him.”
Official Narrative: Strengthening Nigeria–Caribbean Ties
The presidency has framed the trip as part of Nigeria’s commitment to deepening ties with Caribbean nations under its “Four D’s” foreign policy strategy—Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography. In a statement released Sunday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the administration highlighted historical links between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, noting ancestral connections and growing diplomatic opportunities.
Onanuga described the trip as a strategic push to engage the Caribbean, with Saint Lucia serving as a gateway to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the wider CARICOM bloc—a market of 15 nations with a combined GDP exceeding $130 billion.
Persistent Health Speculations
However, for many Nigerians, this narrative is not new. Since assuming office, President Tinubu has embarked on numerous trips abroad—many of which, insiders claim, had medical undertones. From France to the UK, his travel history paints a picture of a presidency frequently mixing diplomacy with healthcare.
Shortly after his 2023 election victory, Tinubu reportedly flew to France for treatment. This was followed by several other “private” or “working” visits, including in May, June, and November of that same year. Most recently, in April 2025, he embarked on another low-profile two-week working visit abroad, raising further eyebrows.
Each time, critics have questioned the transparency of the presidency, especially in a country where public officials often seek medical care abroad while the local healthcare system remains underfunded and overstretched.
Mounting Costs, Growing Concerns
The concerns are not just about health—they’re also financial. According to data obtained from Nigeria’s Open Treasury Portal, President Tinubu’s administration spent a staggering ₦36.3 billion on international travels in 2024 alone. When combined with local travel expenses, the figure soars to ₦83 billion—a sum that many argue could have made a meaningful impact on Nigeria’s struggling public health infrastructure.
For critics, this spending is emblematic of a deeper disconnect between leadership and the people. “Nigerians deserve to know the state of health of the man elected to lead them,” said one analyst. “These constant foreign medical trips, cloaked in diplomacy, erode public trust.”
Between Diplomacy and Discretion
Despite the controversy, the presidency has remained steadfast in defending Tinubu’s travels as legitimate state functions. Officials insist the president is fulfilling his constitutional duties and expanding Nigeria’s global partnerships.
Still, whispers persist.
Whether the Saint Lucia trip proves to be a diplomatic masterstroke or just another stop in a long pattern of health-related journeys disguised as official business, one thing remains clear: the public is watching. And increasingly, they are asking tough questions—not just about where the president is, but why.
