- NCDC warns against large gatherings
- Presidency bans condolence visits to Aso Rock Villa
- Obasanjo condoles with Buhari, Kyari’s family
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, who died Friday of coronavirus, has been buried in Abuja.
Kyari’s remains were interred at exactly 11:20 am, at the military cemetery in the Gudu neighbourhood amidst tears from family members and associates.
The men who lowered Kyari’s remains, from the television footage, were seen wearing full personal protective gears as required by the Ministry of Health in the burial of coronavirus victims.
Kyari died on Friday at a private hospital in Lagos, about four weeks of being confirmed positive for COVID-19 after he returned from Germany.
Tributes have continued to pour in for the departed politician. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and a host of other public figures have extolled the virtues of Kyari, who contracted the fatal virus while on a national assignment in Germany for Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a condolence letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, urged him to stay strong.
Obasanjo wrote: “I received the news of the demise of Alhaji Abba Kyari, your Chief of Staff, over Friday night, with great sadness, as he lost the battle against the dreadful killer disease, COVID-19.
“Abba Kyari’s death must be painful to you and to his family and friends, but you can all take solace in the fact that he died in harness, in the service of his country.
“His death must be a solemn reminder to all of us that COVID-19 requires all hands on deck soberly, cooperatively, humanly, humanely, justly, equitably, fairly, consolidatedly and comprehensively to be able to fight it successfully and to get all Nigerians back to good health and healthy economy.
“God will give you and Abba Kyari’s family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May Allah receive his soul,” Obasanjo concluded.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned Nigerians to desist from attending mass gatherings to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
The center made this known in a series of tweets via its Twitter page on Saturday, following the death and burial of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari.
The health agency asked Nigerians to adhere to its guidelines on the safe burial of victims of the respiratory virus.
The tweets read: “Even at this time, as we mourn loved ones lost to COVID-19, including recently deceased Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, we need to refrain from attending mass gatherings to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
“Let us #StaySafe and protect each other.
“Our guidance on ensuring safe and dignified burial while preventing the spread of #COVID19 can be found at: https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/resource/MgtOfDeadBodies.pdf. #TakeResponsibility”
Apparently following the NCDC warning, the Presidency has asked sympathizers not to visit the Presidential Villa for condolence over Abba Kyari’s death.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, made this known in a series of tweets on Saturday.
Shehu asked well-meaning friends, family members, and the general public to pray for the repose of Abba Kyari’s soul.
He said: “We just received the body of Abba Kyari the deceased Chief of Staff the President in Abuja. In strict observation of the protocol put in place for the burial of coronavirus victims by the @NCDCgov and the Federal Ministry of Health, the funeral prayer and burial will be private.
“Thereafter, there will be no such ceremonies as condolence visits. Well-meaning friends, family members, and the general public are encouraged to pray for the repose of Abba Kyari’s soul.
“May God grant the family and nation the fortitude to bear the loss.”