One of the closest men to President Muhammadu Buhari, his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, has tested positive for COVID-19.
However, according to THISDAY newspaper, the President tested negati6.
The paper reports that this followed a test for the disease that was carried out Tuesday on the president by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),
The NCDC has informed the president on the outcome his negative result this morning in Abuja.
According to presidential sources, the test for the president was necessitated after his Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
Kyari had travelled to Germany on Saturday, March 7th to meet with officials of Siemens in Munich on the Nigerian electricity expansion programme.
He returned exactly one week later on Saturday, March 14th, but did not show any symptoms.
He was said to have been at a meeting on containing the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria all through Sunday, where he reportedly started to cough.
Subsequently, he voluntarily submitted himself for testing and was informed of his status yesterday.
Kyari has however gone into absolute isolation following the test result.
THISDAY gathered that he is hale and hearty and showing no symptoms apart from the occasional cough.
Also, as part of efforts to stop the transmission of Coronavirus from person to person in the workplace, the Federal government has directed most of its workers to work from home.
It is one in a series of steps, it was learnt may lead to a total lockdown that may come into effect in a matter of days.
But in her circular to the heads of ministries, departments, and agencies, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, said, “As you are no doubt aware, the Federal Government has taken a number of measures to manage the identified cases of COVID-19 and curtail its spread.
“Government is concerned about the welfare and safety of all public servants just as it is about other Nigerians.
“All public servants are, therefore, strongly advised to follow the measures being put in place by the government to curtail the spread of the pandemic.
“As a further step to check the spread of COVID-19, all non-essential public servants on grade level 12 and below are to stay and work from home with effect from Tuesday 24th March 2020 until further notice.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on his Facebook Page has advised a restriction of movement of residents in Lagos and Abuja.
“Federal Government is at the highest level, engaging with State Governors in order to ensure a collaborative and effective response to #COVID19. All Abuja and Lagos residents are strongly advised to stay at home, avoid mass congregation of any kind as well as non-essential outings, until further advice is given,” he said, adding that “If and when the need arises, any national assets required for use in the response to COVID-19 shall be mobilized and deployed”.
He ordered the suspension of the weekly federal executive council (FEC) meetings and approved the postponement of the meeting of the Council of State scheduled for Thursday 26 March, 2020 was okayed by the President.
He added, “All land borders that have been hitherto under partial closure shall now be closed to human traffic for 4 weeks eff. 23rd March, 2020.
“Federal Government is at the highest level, engaging with State Governors in order to ensure a collaborative and effective response to #COVID19. All Abuja and Lagos residents are strongly advised to stay at home, avoid mass congregation of any kind as well as non-essential outings, until further advice is given”.
Additional reports by THISDAY