The presidency has announced plans for the burial of Abba Kyari, the deceased chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The death of Kyari who hailed from Borno State, was announced on Friday by the presidencyannounced on Friday by the presidency.
He was believed to have died from pre-existing health issues complicated by the virulent coronavirus infection.
He was first tested positive for the virus on March 23 and subsequently moved to a private medical facility in Lagos for treatment but he gave up the ghost on Friday.
Following his demise Friday night, the presidency has began burial plans in earnest in line with Islamic rites. .
Kyari’s remains will arrive in Abuja from Lagos Saturday morning, presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu has disclosed.
He will be received by friends and cabinet members at the airport in Abuja from where he will later be transported to a cemetery in the nation’s capital for internment, Shehu said.
The burial will be held behind closed doors, with few people in attendance, in adherence with the existing social distancing directive and other preventive measures aimed at curtailing the spread of the deadly virus.
Kyari has been a hot subject of public discourse since he was announced to have fallen victim of the virus on March 23.
In a March 29 statement, In a note of reassurance and optimism, Kyari said his health was improving and implored Nigerians not to panic and remain calm about his situation and keep a hygienic lifestyle to avoid contracting the virus.
But on Friday night, the presidency confirmed he had departed from complications inflicted by the virus.
Consequently, Kyari became the most senior and influential Nigerian government official and politician to die from the virus, which was first reported in the country on February 27.