COVID-19: Abba Kyari to Be Buried Today, Presidency Announces

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Following the announcement of the passing away of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who died on Friday, the Presidency has disclosed his burial arrangements, saying he will be buried in Abuja on Saturday, 18 April 2020.

Since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus in Nigeria, Kyari’s death was the highest profiled person in the country and in Africa to have been recorded due to the virus.

According to the presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, the deceased chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, will be buried in Abuja on Saturday.

Shehu via his twitter handled just announced the arrival of the remains of the deceased, saying all protocols as stated by the NCDC will be observed.

Shehu tweeted: “We just received the body of Abba Kyari, the deceased Chief of Staff to the President in Abuja. In strict observation of the protocol put in place for the burial of Coronavirus victims by the @NCDCgov and the Federal Ministry of Health, the funeral prayer and burial will be private.

“Thereafter, there will be no such ceremonies as condolence visits. Well meaning friends, family members and the general public are encouraged to pray for the repose of Abba Kyari’s soul”, he stated.

Mr Kyari, from Borno State, was pronounced dead on Friday from coronavirus complications. He was first tested positive for the virus on March 23 and subsequently moved to a private medical facility in Lagos for treatment.

Reports have it that he was initially receiving treatment in Abuja before he was transferred to a private hospital in Lagos on March 29.

In a March 29 statement, Mr Kyari said his health was improving and urged Nigerians to remain calm about his situation and keep a hygienic lifestyle to avoid contracting the virus.

But on Friday night, the presidency confirmed he had departed from complications inflicted by the virus. Mr Kyari consequently became the most senior Nigerian government official and politician to die from the virus, which was first reported in the country on 27 February.

The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, 17 April 2020,  Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president, media and publicity, revealed through a press release.

Although the statement didn’t not disclose his age, but there were divergent views concerning the age of the deceased, as some reported 81, others said he was in his 70s.

While the nation mourns the passing away of the president’s chief of staff, governors and other national officials have condoled with the presidency and the deceased family.