The Presidency has announced the demise of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Kyari is the highest profile government official to die as a result of the disease in Nigeria.
In a terse statement issued early Saturday morning, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, said: “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.
“Funeral arrangements, the statement said, will be announced shortly.”
As a Muslim, Kyari is expected to be buried today, but the circumstances of his death have put a question mark on whether his body would be released to the family or not and where his remains would be interred, as Covid-19 is a highly contagious disease.
More clarifications are expected in the coming hours from the Presidency and appropriate agencies.
