COVID-19: Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari is dead.

Report reaching us at Live News Nigeria reveals that the Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari is dead.

According to the fresh report, Abba Kyari dies of the pandemic coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) after being treated at a Private Lagos hospital in Nigeria.

The announcement of his death was made known to the public by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a Tweet early Saturday.

In his words:

Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.

Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.

— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) April 17, 2020

The official had on March 23 tested positive to the novel coronavirus. On March 29, Mr Kyari issued a statement on his decision to move to Lagos for “further test and observation.”

The statement was the first official confirmation of his COVID-19 status since he was reportedly confirmed positive six days earlier.

In his statement, he said; “I have made my own care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system, which faces so many pressures.”

“This is a precautionary measure: I feel well, but last week I tested positive for Coronavirus, the pandemic that is sweeping the world. I have followed all protocols the government has announced to self-isolate and quarantine,” he said.

The perceived secrecy surrounding the management of Mr Kyari’s medical condition further heightened the agitation by Nigerians for information on the whereabouts of arguably Nigeria’s most powerful presidential aide.

Some Nigerians on social media had also speculated that Mr Kyari was flown abroad.

Mr Kyari’s death is believed to be among the four new deaths announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) late on Friday.