Abba Kyari, Buhari’s chief of staff, tests positive for COVID-19 as pandemic cases hit 44 in Nigeria

Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, has tested positive for coronavirus days after returning from an official trip to Germany.

This comes on the heels of surging cases of the pandemic in Nigeria. As at the time of filling this report, Nigeria has 44 confirmed cases of the virus — out which two have gained recovery and had been consequently discharged while one case has been recorded.

It also comes about the same time the Senate announced suspension of plenary for two weeks over the virus.

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who made this known after a one-hour closed-door session on Tuesday, said the upper legislative chamber would however, be available to address issues demanding urgent attention.

He said: “The senate further resolves to adjourn sitting for two weeks from today due to the pandemic of coronavirus ravaging the entire world and therefore the senate will resume on the 7th April.

“However the senate will be on hand in case there is an urgent issue that requires its attention. The federal government should devote special funds to fight the covid-19 threatening Nigeria threatening Nigeria.

“Also the federal government should give financial and other resource assistance to the states in the fight against the virus. The senate committees on health and primary healthcare and communicable diseases will continue to engage on the federal ministry of health and presidential taskforce on covid-19.”