Nigeria’s Presidency, in the wee hours of Saturday, announced the passage of Mallam Abba Kyari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff who had weeks ago tested positive to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic some weeks ago.
He was said to have died on Friday, April 17, 2020.
The announcement by Mallam Garba Shehu is coming after weeks of questioning by Nigerians as to the whereabouts of the very influential and key member of the President’s kitchen cabinet.
This had subsequently fueled rumours that he may have been ferried abroad for medicare despite the lockdown of airspaces by most countries of the world.
According to the terse statement by Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media), “the Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.
“The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19 and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020. May God accept his soul.”
Recall that Kyari, a former chief executive of the United Bank for Africa tested positive to COVID-19 after an official visit to Germany recently.
He brings to 17 the number of deaths as a result of the pandemic in Nigeria as of 10.10 pm on Friday, according to the country’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The total of reported new cases in the country ballooned to 51, bringing the total t 493 with 32 recorded in Lagos the epicenter; followed by Kano with six; Kwara, five; the Federal Capital Territory, two; just like Oyo and Katsina. There was a reported case each in Ogun and Ekiti; while there has been a total of 159 people who have been discharged after recovery.