Mallam Abba Kyari has died of covid-19. Kyari was Nigeria President Buhari’s Chief of Staff. The Nigeria presidency has announced on 18 April 2020 that Kyari succumbed to the disease. Kyari batted covid-19 from late last month when it was announced that he had contracted the disease.
The news were confirmed by a Tweet by Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President Muhammadu Buhari Barba Shehu.
“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,” Shehu posted.
Kyari becomes the first high profile case to pass away from the disease in the west African country. The news send shocking waves across the country as the disease has not been severe in Nigeria.
Kyari is suspected to have contracted the novel coronavirus when he traveled to Germany with a delegation of Nigerian government officials in early March. The delegation attended meetings with other senior government officials when the returned in Nigeria. The confirmation that Kyari had tested positive to covid-19 came on 24 March 2020.
Read: Melinda Gates: Covid-19 will be horrible for Africa, vaccine is ultimate solution
Buhari’s health problems
Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari has been battling an unknown ailment. In 2017, he spent 5 months in a London private health care facility a receiving treatment.
Other high profile cases in Nigeria
Davido’s wife Chioma is another high profile case that contracted the novel coronavirus. Davido announced on Twitter that Chioma had traveled to London and decided to self isolate and get tested. Her results came out positive but the disease has been mild.
Read More: Nigerian star Davido’s wife Chioma Tested Positive for COVID-19
Read More: King Mswati III hospitalised, critically ill with COVID-19 – Reports