Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari Is Dead!

Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari is dead. His age is unclear at this time.

Mr Kyari died of coronavirus. He received treatment at a private hospital in Lagos.

His death was announced by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a Tweet early Saturday.





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


Mr Adesina later sent PREMIUM TIMES a short statement, saying, “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.”


Mr Kyari 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 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.