Top aide of Nigerian president dies of Covid-19
The powerful chief of staff to Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari has died after contracting the Covid-19 coronavirus, the presidency said on Saturday.
Buhari’s office announced in a statement that it “regrets to announce the passage” of Abba Kyari, who acted as gatekeeper to the president of Africa’s most populous nation.
“The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging Covid-19, and have been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020,” the statement said.
“May God accept his soul.”
Kyari, in his seventies, may be the highest-profile person in Nigeria to be killed by a virus which has caused 493 confirmed infections, with 17 deaths.
The influential technocrat, who was reported to have suffered from underlying medical issues, was seen as one of the dominant figures in the tight-knit group of advisors around Buhari.
He reportedly controlled access to the president, a 77-year old former military ruler now in his second term as democratically elected leader, overseeing key meetings and granting ministers audiences.
Kyari tested positive for coronavirus in late March after visiting Germany, forcing a string of top Nigerian officials who was simply in touch with him to self-isolate.
In a statement released on March 29, Kyari said he previously been transferred to Nigeria’s biggest city Lagos for private medical treatment and hoped “to be back within my desk soon.”
There's been no official confirmation on whether Buhari has taken a test, but the president has since made repeated televised speeches imposing restrictions to curb the spread the virus.
The central government has imposed a lockdown on Nigeria’s economical hub Lagos and capital Abuja, while state governors have ordered a raft of measures in other regions.
Experts say the united states of 200 million is highly susceptible to the spread of the disease given its weak healthcare system and high population density. - AFP
