BREAKING: PRESIDENT BUHARI’S CHIEF OF STAFF, ABBA KYARI, DIES

The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba KYARI is dead. This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

According to the statement, Mr. Kyari died on Friday (April 17, 2020) following complications resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“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.

“Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly,” the statement ended.

The late Chief of Staff tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from official trip in Germany in March and had afterwards announced a personal decision to be treated privately.

Meanwhile, latest COVID-19 up date by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that as at Friday April 17, 2020, 493 persons have the virus in Nigeria with 51 fresh cases; 159 persons have been discharged while 17 persons have died.

CHUKWUBUIKE MADU