Date Published: 02/22/10

Ministers granted landing permit, to depart for Saudi today

The six Ministerial delegation selected to visit sickly president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in Saudi Arabia have now been granted landing permit and would depart today, a source informed Pointblanknews.com.

The Ministers were hitherto stranded in Abuja on Sunday when it was claimed that Saudi officials refused granting the Presidential Jet landing permit in what insiders claimed was part of the scheme to frustrate the trip and deny the FEC members’ access to the Nigeria President who has been kept in a secret place at the Saudi Hospital since November 2009.

They are expected to turn in its findings on President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health before Wednesday’s weekly Executive Council meeting. The outcome of the findings is expected to influence the course of discussion of the day.

The team comprises Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ahmed Yayale, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe, Minister of Health Babatunde Osotimehin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Adetokunbo Kayode, Minister of Petroleum Resources Rilwanu Lukman and Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Abba Ruma.