Nigeria: Nigeria's influential President's Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, dies of COVID-19 complications

18 Avril 2020

Abuja, Nigeria, April 18 (Infosplusgabon) - Nigeria’s Chief of Staff Malam Abba Kyari died here Saturday morning, official sources announced here, attributing the cause of death to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, is the highest ranking Nigerian to die of (COVID-19, which has already recorded 493 confirmed cases and 17 deaths.

He acted as the gatekeeper to President Buhari. He travelled to Germany in early March with a delegation of other Nigerian officials for meetings with Siemens.

On his return to Nigeria, he attended meetings with senior government officials.

It was made public that Kyari tested positive for COVID-19 late last month, following the official trip to Germany nine days before.

It was also reported that Kyari had underlying medical conditions but he later rejected these claims and announced his movement from Abuja to Lagos for further treatment.

Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina confirmed the sad news Saturday morning in a tweet: “Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.”

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, also confirmed the death in a terse chat posted on his Twitter handle.

“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 will be announced shortly.”

Meanwhile, the other presidential aides and good wishers have been mourning him, emphasising on the fact that he should be granted eternal rest. Others did not fail to knock down the leadership and actions of the chief of staff while he was alive.

Senate President Senator Ahmad Lawan expressed his profound sympathy, saying: “Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un! Death is inevitable, it only comes at our individually appointed time. May Allah forgive the shortcomings of late Mallam Abba Kyari and grant him speedy passage to Aljannatu Firdausi,” he supplicated.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications Dr. Isa Patanmi also showed his sympathy, saying: “May the Almighty Allah forgive and be Merciful to Malam Abba Kyari (Chief of Staff to the President). May He (SWT) bless us with a good end.”

Minister of State for Labour and Productivity Festus Kenyamo narrated his recent chat with Kyari, saying: “When I chatted with him exactly on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, he assured me his health was fine and that he would faithfully take the treatments. But God always knows best. Sincere condolences to the Kyari family and the Government of Nigeria. Adieu Mallam Abba Kyari,” he mourned.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/BRD/GABON2020

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