Scores of Nigerians, including several VIPs, attended the burial of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, on Saturday, despite the restriction on large gatherings and guidelines on social distancing put in place by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
After funeral prayers at the Chief of Staff’s residence, Kyari’s remains were buried at Gudu Cemetery, Abuja, following his death on Friday, weeks after testing positive to the coronavirus in March.
The PUNCH reported that most attendees at the burial, though wearing face masks, stood less than two metres apart as prescribed by the NCDC protocol.
Prominent persons in attendance included the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu; former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima; and Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
Others were Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari; Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami; and Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani ldris Umar, among others.
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However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Interim Guidelines for the Safe Management of a Dead Body reads, “In the event, a ceremony is held, the number of attendees should be limited.
“The ceremony should be held in a well-ventilated structure, attendees should be advised on social distancing throughout the event, ensuring practice of hand and respiratory hygiene.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement, said well-wishers could sign a condolence register at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Shehu said, “As advised by the protocols put in place by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health on social distancing, the burial marks the end of all ceremonies and there will be no condolence visits to family and the Presidency.
“Well-wishers and all other Nigerians are instead advised to pray for the repose of the soul of the late Chief of Staff.
“A condolence register will be opened at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation from Sunday for those who are able to use the window permitted for movement by the FCT administration.”
