Kyari: "Nigeria has lost a dignified public official" - Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has eulogised the Nigerian president’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari, who died on Friday after contracting the new coronavirus.

Kyari, who was in his 70s and had underlying health problems including diabetes, was the top official aide to 77-year-old Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and one of the most powerful men in the country.

President Akufo-Addo in a tweet said Kyari will be missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him.

He posted: "I send my deep sympathies and condolences to @MBuhari on the death of Abba Kyari, his Chief of Staff and trusted aide.

"The Nigerian people have lost a courteous and dignified public official, and he will be missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. May his soul rest in perfect peace".

Kyari’s was the highest-profile death due to the disease in the West African country, which has 493 confirmed cases and 17 deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Kyari acted as the gatekeeper to Buhari. He travelled to Germany in early March with a delegation of other Nigerian officials for meetings with Siemens AG. He attended meetings with senior government officials upon his return to Nigeria.