Lagos , Nigeria ( CNN ) -- Nigeria 's ailing president has broken two months of silence to assure his countrymen that contrary to speculation he is alive and intending to return to power soon . President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua this week gave his first media interview since being admitted to a hospital in Saudi Arabia in late November where he is being treated for acute pericarditis , an inflammation of tissue around the heart . His absence has created a power vacuum in Africa 's most populous country , as Yar'Adua has not formally handed his presidential duties to Vice-president Goodluck Jonathan . In a phone interview with the BBC from his hospital bed Tuesday , President Yar'Adua said he was recovering from his treatment . `` At the moment I 'm undergoing treatment . I 'm getting better from the treatment . I hope that very soon there will be tremendous progress to allow me to get back home , '' he said . `` As soon as my doctors discharge me I 'll return to Nigeria to resume my duties , '' he added . Yar'Adua 's interview coincided with demonstrations in the nation 's capital , Abuja , where protesters demanded a constitutional order on his absence and `` evidence about his true state of health , '' Voice of Nigeria reported . The Nigerian Senate is seeking also information on the president 's whereabouts and health . It passed a resolution Tuesday asking Nigeria 's `` secretary to the government of the federation '' to brief it on Yar'Adua 's status , Voice of Nigeria reported . The Senate had earlier considered sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia . `` In arriving at its decision , the Senate expressed concern that there had been no formal communication to the National Assembly '' -- as required by the nation 's constitution -- `` ( to ) empower the vice president to act and perform the functions of the president , '' Voice of Nigeria reported . Some senators also pushed for an amendment to a law stating that a presidential letter to the National Assembly about an absence is optional , the news organization reported . Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe told CNN he has not spoken to Yar'Adua since he left for Saudi Arabia . But he also said he has no need to talk to the president while he is recovering . Yar'Adua 's illness was diagnosed in November after he complained of chest pain following prayers at a mosque in Abuja . He was taken to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah , where he had his last checkup in August , his doctor said . He said at the time he did not intend to resign while in Saudi Arabia . In addition to internal discord over its missing president , the oil-rich nation has faced some international heat after one of its citizens allegedly attempted to blow up a U.S.-bound flight on Christmas Day . Nigeria was then cited as a country from which enhanced security measures would be enforced for passengers on U.S.-bound flights . A senior U.S. administration official said Nigeria fell into the U.S. Transportation Security Administration category of `` state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest . '' Another notable worry for the government is its handling of militants who have wrestled with the government over oil . On Tuesday , police announced that four Shell contractors had been abducted . Hundreds others have been kidnapped over recent years . CNN 's Christian Purefoy contributed to this report .
Nigeria 's president said in a phone interview that he is alive and recovering from treatment . Yar'Adua has not been seen since leaving Nigeria for treatment in Saudi Arabia in late November . His absence has created a power vacuum in the African Parliament . Protesters , the media call for more information on his whereabouts and state of health .