Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, has tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
It was learnt that Kyari tested positive for the virus after returning to the country from Germany, where he went for an official meeting.
The Chief of Staff, according to presidential sources, was tested for the Coronavirus on Saturday and his test result returned positive on Monday.
Although he is said to be asymptomatic (not yet exhibited the symptoms of the epidemic), he has gone to isolation following medical advice.
Kyari’s positive test prompted health officials to advise President Buhari to also run a test to confirm his status.
The president’s test returned negative and he was informed of the development on Monday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the frontline agency combating the pandemic in the country.
It was also gathered that Sale Mamman, Minister of Power, also alongside Kyari attended the meeting in Germany with officials of Siemens to discuss issues relating to the Nigerian power sector.
It, however, remains unclear if Mamman has been tested for the virus.
The presidency is yet to comment on the COVID-19 status of Kyari.
As at 11pm on Monday, the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in Nigeria stood at 40, with one fatality recorded.
Out of the 40 cases, Lagos State recorded the highest number with 28, followed by the FCT with seven (7), Ogun State with two and Ekiti, Oyo and Edo recording one case each.
