The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Tuesday, exhibited its clout for upsetting human activities at the top echelons of the Nigerian government.
THE WITNESS gathered that shortly after reports that Chief of Staff Abba Kyari tested positive to the virus, the Presidential Villa in Abuja was no longer the same. It retained all the trappings of a nation’s power core, but ripples of apprehension had already set in.
As at Wednesday morning, the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria had swelled to 46 following the announcement of two new cases in Osun and Lagos by NCDC.
But the impact of Kyari’s positive test to coronavirus may only become clear with the passing days. Widely regarded as the most powerful man in the Buhari presidency, his position meant he had daily contacts with almost every important personality who came to the Presidential Villa, and coronavirus thrives on contacts.
THE WITNESS understands that the NCDC have compiled names of those who had contact with Kyari for possible testing.
These are President Buhari (negative), Vice President Osinbajo (negative), the Guinea Bissau President and entourage, Ministers, Secretary to the Govt of the Federation, Head of Civil Service of the Federation and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Others are 16 APC governors who attended the APC leadership peace meeting on 16th March, Bayelsa State Governor who also visited the President on 17th March, Speaker, House of Representative who also met with the President on the 16th of March and all those who attended the Commissioning of the Emergency Number 112 by the President on 19th March.
The rest are all staff of the Presidential Villa in contact with the Chief of Staff, Service Chiefs and Heads of Security agencies with contact with the Chief of Staff, Heads of Departments, Agencies and Parastatals, Diplomats and Foreign dignitaries who have visited the villa in the last week, all security personnel around the Villa particularly close to the Chief of Staff and family, personal and domestic staff of Kyari , including driver and orderly.