The presidency has cleared the air on the modalities of the burial arrangements of the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari.
According to a statement by the senior special assistant to Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the burial was private.
He said the arrangements was in strict compliance with the protocols of handling COVID-19 victims as laid down by the Nigeria Center for Diseases Control and the Federal Ministry of Health.
The statement reads, “We just received the body of Abba Kyari the deceased Chief of Staff the President in Abuja. In strict observation of the protocol put in place for the burial of Coronavirus victims by the NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health, the funeral prayer and burial will be private. Thereafter,there will be no such ceremonies as condolence visits.
“Well meaning friends, family members and the general public are encouraged to pray for the repose of Abba Kyari’s soul.
“May Allah grant the family and nation the fortitude to bear the loss.
Reports say prayers were said close to the ambulance that conveyed his corpse as the body was not brought down.
Immediately after the prayers the NCDC officials took away the body for burial in line with the protocols of Covid-19.