EXCLUSIVE: How Nigerian Government Spent Millions Of Naira In Trying To Save Life Of Buhari’s Chief Of Staff, Abba Kyari, Who Died Of Coronavirus - Sahara Reporters

The private facility where he received care until his death also received 'special attention' from the Presidency, which ensured that all needed items for his recovery were in place. All these, according to the official, ran into several millions of naira.

Against the notion presented to the public that the now late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, deployed personal funds in seeking a viable treatment for his Coronavirus infection, SaharaReporters can confirm that the Presidency actually made huge sums from the public treasury available in trying to save his life. '

Kyari died on Friday, exactly 26 days after SaharaReporters first broke the news of him being severely ill and in fact suspected of contracting the deadly virus after trips to Germany and Egypt where the pandemic had claimed hundreds of lives.

Upon his return to Nigeria from those countries, it was reliably gathered that Kyari, who had a history of diabetes and was in his 70s until his death on Friday, refused to observe the mandatory 14-day self-isolation period, instead going about his normal activities and subjecting dozens of persons including ministers, state governors and Aso Villa staff to the risk of contracting the virus.

Three of his staff were shortly afterwards confirmed to have contracted the virus while some state governors, who had contact with him were also infected.

After being denied the usage of the Presidential Intensive Care Unit at Aso Villa, Abuja, which was kept for the use of President Buhari in case there was an emergency around him, and considering the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital isolation unit too low for his standard and or liking, Lagos was considered the best place to find cure for Kyari.

In the face of a global lockdown and with many countries with functional health systems closing their borders to international visitors, the Lagos Infectious Diseases Centre was one of the few places that could successfully deal with his case especially after it treated an Italian man, who first brought the virus into the country at the time, with great success.

But rather than check into the facility of the Lagos State Government, Kyari violated the Quarantine Act to embark on a private treatment for his Coronavirus infection against the directive and recommendation of senior government and Ministry of Health officials.

According to a senior government official, his move to Lagos and choice of a private treatment facility cost the Nigerian Government huge sums in public funds especially in taking care of the upkeep and general welfare of the large number of security guards, medical staff and other categories of care givers that were always on the ground to ensure everything around him was fine.

This was aside the amount spent on their accommodation and providing relevant safety items to ensure all persons looking after the late Chief of Staff to President Buhari were not infected with the virus.

The private facility where he received care until his death also received 'special attention' from the Presidency, which ensured that all needed items for his recovery were in place.

All these, according to the official, ran into several millions of naira -- the exact amount which could not be confirmed at the time of this report.

"Forget what they are saying in top government circles, the Presidency actually spent big in trying to save Kyari’s life. They spent some good millions of naira in attempting to save his life.

"He is one of the persons President Buhari trusts the most in this world and he was willing to do anything to save Kyari's life.

"Throughout his stay in Lagos, the Presidency ensured that he got all the support he needed to defeat the virus by ensuring that funds were made available to foot any type of cost around his treatment and also ensure the safety and welfare of all those looking after him.

"As a prominent member of the cabal, there is no way the President or anyone in that circle was going to watch him spend personal funds to get a viable treatment for his situation. All needed support came from government," the official, said.

Until his death, Kyari was one of the most influential and powerful figures in President Buhari’s government.

Governors, ministers and other important personalities all had to first win him over before gaining access to the President.

"There is nothing happening around President Buhari that he was not involved in.

"He was a pillar of support to Buhari in too many ways. Both of them had come a long way.

"His death is a huge personal loss to Buhari, he is going to feel his absence a lot," the official said.

SaharaReporters also reliably gathered that the Nigerian Government made attempts to fly the late Kyari to London, United Kingdom, for treatment but had to shelve that idea especially after Coronavirus deaths rose astronomically in that space.

The UK has 14,576 deaths from 108,692 confirmed cases of the virus at the moment.

Kyari, like Buhari, had jetted out to the UK in the not too distant past to seek treatment for his health.

The doctors in the UK understand his medical history and know how to handle his case but the situation in Britain had prevented him from being flown there for attention.

Buhari on his part has a yet to be disclosed medical ailment and in fact spent five months in London in 2017 for treatment.

He has visited the UK several times more since that period for treatment.

Following Kyari's death on Friday, officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control are now saddled with the responsibility of tracking down any persons, who may have had contact with him.

The agency earlier said that at least 6,000 Nigerians, who had contact with persons already infected were on the loose and being tracked.

“I don’t think the NCDC can trace everyone who shook hands with or met him at meetings and functions and that is why we asked everyone who were at those gatherings to self-isolate even if they don’t display any symptoms at all,” the official told SaharaReporters.

On Friday night, the NCDC announced that the country now had 493 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and 17 deaths.

Already, experts have warned that there could be an explosion in these figures in the coming weeks especially with many Nigerians deliberately flouting the stay-at-home order put in place to curb the spread of the virus in many parts of the country.

However, following Kyari's death and importance in the decision making process of the President Buhari's administration, there are already concerns that governance may be gravely affected in the coming days and weeks -- at a time Nigeria desperately needs quality and responsive leadership.

http://saharareporters.com/2020/04/18/exclusive-how-nigerian-government-spent-millions-naira-trying-save-life-buhari%E2%80%99s-chief

As expected.
Stay blessed.

Hmm

It's a sad news to lose someone. My thoughts are with his family.

This just goes to show that money isn't everything.



If you are excited about this news, please just stop. This man is a father, a husband, uncle, probably a philanthropist the has helped many people and still have lots of dependant.

I get it you may be mad at the government, we all are. But his death at this point doesn't change anything aside bringing pain to his dependant.

May his soul rest in peace and may God give us good leaders who are in touch with the realities of the common citizen

Is it not too late for self isolation from those that has contact with him?
The ship has set sail long ago.


Disease that shook the world especially the West, is it Nigeria it will spare?

Hence the need to bring in Chinese doctors.

That is the problem of Nigeria for now for us, they can't travel out again, they there hospital is not good in Nigeria, had it been there is no covid19 they would have fly him out of d country ,anyway rest in peace

Hence the need to bring in Chinese doctors. RIP to the dead.

There is a time to live, and there is a time to die. Rest in peace Abba Kyari

Maybe after this pendamic our government will focus on our health care.

With All the stolen common wealth couldn't save him from dying.
Our leaders are going to regret not fixing the health care system of this country earlier.

scrolldown88:
Hmm

It's a sad news to lose someone. My thoughts are with his family.

This just goes to show that money isn't everything.



If you are excited about this news, please just stop. This man is a father, a husband, uncle, probably a philanthropist the has helped many people and still have lots of dependant.

I get it you may be mad at the government, we all are. But his death at this point doesn't change anything aside bringing pain to his dependant.

May his soul rest in peace and may God give us good leaders who are in touch with the realities of the common citizen

covidiot

scrolldown88:
Hmm

It's a sad news to lose someone. My thoughts are with his family.

This just goes to show that money isn't everything.



If you are excited about this news, please just stop. This man is a father, a husband, uncle, probably a philanthropist the has helped many people and still have lots of dependant.

I get it you may be mad at the government, we all are. But his death at this point doesn't change anything aside bringing pain to his dependant.

May his soul rest in peace and may God give us good leaders who are in touch with the realities of the common citizen

you must be mad for this comment

despite all the billions he stole, he couldn't use it to treat himself.

Even on his death bed he was still embezzling our money, what sought of wickedness is that.

At least make we see whether Buhari fit use him head

Person wey no fear aunty kemi, na d person I fear pass o

So this is why they brought the Chinese doctors to Nigeria!!!

RIP

scrolldown88:
Hmm

It's a sad news to lose someone. My thoughts are with his family.

This just goes to show that money isn't everything.



If you are excited about this news, please just stop. This man is a father, a husband, uncle, probably a philanthropist the has helped many people and still have lots of dependant.

I get it you may be mad at the government, we all are. But his death at this point doesn't change anything aside bringing pain to his dependant.

May his soul rest in peace and may God give us good leaders who are in touch with the realities of the common citizen

ones the devil dies in Nigeria, he becomes a saint suddenly

God is good. Proverbs 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

Had they used billion of money budgeted on Aso Rock hospital judiciously, he might have been treated there...But none of them tot they will need any hospital in Nigeria..
The home u have but don't take care of , may finally be your only options

Abba Kumari had issues with the then minister of health Isaac Adewole so he transferred the approval of health funds to ministry of agric which means the ministry of health has to write to the ministry of agric before they purchase any needed healthcare material. He didn't reverse it even when a new minister of health came in. This led to a lot of issues when preventive material for covid 19 was about to be purchased. this is the legacy he left behind... https://punchng.com/coronavirus-health-ministrys-preparation-suffers-as-presidency-blocks-procurement/?amp=1#click=https:///l1RdUtbqef

Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.Money is not everything in this life.

If they spent millions on him he deserve it because he got the virus on official assignment by the govt. so there is no how they will leave him.
moreover anyone will do same to safe the life of his loved ones even when u know the person will not survive.
REST IN PEACE TO THE DEAD.

Aunty kemi should be made minister of information, so as to avail us an opportunity of hearing first hand news

The medical director of the private hospital don hammer

Any sane govt will spend hugely to save the life of her chief of staff, so this is no news.

21savages:
Maybe after this pendamic our government will focus on our health care.

If i hear! We dont learn from our mistakes in this country. After this pandemic it will be business as usual.

Well, individually, I believe he has d funds to take care of himself and even if it happens that the federal government actually expended funds in taking care of him, why begrudge that decision? He contracted the virus on official assignment. As for those gloating at his death, remember we are all humans and we'll all die. Say what you may, but Abba Kyari was loyal to his friend and boss and did everything to protect his boss' interest (including standing in as an object of vilification). I pray to have loyal friends like Abba. And one amazing fact is at least 70% of those celebrating his death won't achieve what he achieved in his life time. Didn't say he was perfect (who is?) But, may his soul rest in peace and may the almighty forgive his transgressions

Soldiers got killed, people died from this same Covid-19 virus, Nigerians got their houses looted, mothers & daughters raped, y'all bloodsuckers upstairs kept quiet..Now the hammer has fallen on one of u and u expect empathy..I'm broke, I ran out of empathy to share

He died at old age. That’s the only reason I wish him a Rest In Peace.

Almost all Nigerians know how our leaders treat the people they are supposed to lead as slaves. They spend billions taking care of themselves and dogs while spending nothing to take care of the people they are suppose to protect. Hope this serves as a lesson to the others. Money can not buy life only God owns life!!

some people are more equal in naija o.

Dis show dat north are not eating good food & also d 15 chines dat came to nigeria is for abba but dey not save him.

Death is inevitable.
May Allah rest his soul and comfort the family he left behind.
My condolences to the family, presidency and to the good people of Borno State.