Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
President Muhammadu Bubari on Friday approved immediate evacuation of former Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, to outside of the country for medical treatment.
Ekwueme, 85, was on Oct. 29, hospitalised for alleged chest infection.
The approval followed a brief the President received Friday on the medical condition of the former Vice-President, Shehu Garba, spokesperson for the President said in a statement.
According to him, the presidential approval covers the immediate charter of an Air Ambulance for the emergency movement and the cost of treatment.
He added that President Buhari prayed that God will grant the elder statesman speedy recovery.
The former Vice President has been on admission in Memfis Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu and was reported to be in stable condition.
It was not immediately known if the condition of the former Vice President had deteriorated to demand his evacuation abroad as family members indicated yesterday that he was responding to treatment.
Members of his family had in a statement on Thursday thanked members of the public for their concern on the health of their father.
The statement signed by the traditional ruler of Oko, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, said that the former vice president would remain under close medical attention.
“Ekwueme had a quiet celebration of his 85th birthday on Oct. 21 in the company of his family members and he remained in high spirits up till his recent health challenges.
“His doctors confirmed that he is stable, but he will remain under close medical attention in the mean time.
“The family requests the sustained support and prayers of Nigerians as he continues to make a full recovery,” Ekwueme said in the statement.