The Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, is dead.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the deceased died of COVID-19.
“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.” Shehu wrote on his official Twitter page, adding that funeral arrangements for the deceased would be announced soon.
The Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, also wrote via his verified Twitter handle @FemAdesina, “Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.”
Kyari had tested positive for the coronavirus in March after a trip to Germany and Egypt.
Doctors attending to the late Chief of Staff had obtained his medical records from Wellington Hospital, St John’s Wood, London, which showed that he (Kyari) had some other ailments that could hamper his rate of recovery from COVID-19.
He died on Friday at age 81.
FULL STATEMENT
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT, ABBA KYARI, PASSES ON
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.
May God accept his soul.
Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
April 18, 2020
