We are all aware that the loyal chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, succumbed to the complications of COVID-19 in the late hours of Friday according to the official announcement from the presidency.
Though many are aware he died in Lagos, questions have been raised about the private hospital that were treating him until his sad demise as he was glaringly absent in the government designated isolation centres for COVID-19 patients. Moreover, the Nigerian government has earlier warned that only government hospitals are allowed to take care of infected coronavirus patients.
Well, in a series of tweets, the Lagos State Ministry of Health has released a public statement via their verified twitter handle says Mallam Abba Kyari died at First Cardiology Consultants, a high-brow private hospital located at Ikoyi and approved by government to cater for COVID19 patients because they have the facilities for such highly infectious diseases.
In their words:
“Following enquiries on the passing away of the Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mallam Abba Kyari on Friday 17th April, 2020, the Lagos State Government states that: Mallam Abba Kyari died from Complications of COVID19 infection at First Cardiology Consultants in Lagos.
This hospital is a Lagos State designated high care, biosecurity-compliant, COVID19 facility, accredited by the Health Facility Management and Accreditation Agency @HEFAMAA_LASG of the @LSMOH.
As a basis for accreditation, First Cardiology Consultants established a separate specialist wing with staff dedicated to the treatment of complicated cases of #COVID19, under the supervision of the Lagos State #COVID19 emergency response team.”
Until his death, Mallam Abba Kyari was a loyal and trustworthy confidant of his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari. Kyari was an executive director in charge of management services at the United Bank for Africa, and was later appointed the chief executive officer. In 2002, he was appointed a board director of Unilever Nigeria, and later served on the board of Exxon Mobil Nigeria.
Recall that the index case of Ebola in Nigeria in 2014, was in the same First Cardiologist Consultants in Ikoyi. Since then, they have expanded their facilities to cater for highly contagious diseases.
