The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Abba Kyari is dead. He died on Friday in Lagos of complications from the deadly coronavirus.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, broke the news on Twitter yesterday.

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

Shehu said: “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.”

Kyari had tested positive to COVID-19  on March 24, about 10 days after he returned from an official trip to Germany, one of the countries with high cases of the deadly virus. 

Kyari reportedly carried on with official duties and did not self quarantine on arrival from Germany. He only went on self-isolation late March following public outcry, though he had insisted he was not exhibiting any symptoms of the disease. 

Following public outcry, President Buhari on the same March 29, made a nationwide broadcast on the COVID-19 and announced a two-week lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Kyari, who had earlier stated he was working from home, where he was on self isolation, also announced he would be moving to Lagos for treatment despite not showing symptoms of the disease. He had expressed optimism that he would recover soon and return to duty. 

The deceased Chief of Staff was believed to be one of President Buhari’s closest allies and also among the most influential and powerful members of his administration.