The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mele Kyari, has confirmed the death of former Managing Director of the Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) Engr Achimugu from the novel coronavirus.
Mele Kyari taking to his official twitter handle on Monday 23rd March 2020, a few hours after the news broke, confirmed the death of Sulaiman Achimugu, where he twitted saying:
“We regret to announce the demise of Engr Sulaiman Achimugu former MD PPMC early this morning. Following his travel history of return to Nigeria on 10th March, his family members that have contact with him are on mandatory quarantine and no exposure to NNPC whatsoever. RIP,” he said.
Mele Kyari also assured staff of the corporation and other stakeholders of their safety, saying:
“Demise of Engr S Achimugu: I use this medium to reassure NNPC staff and other stakeholders that necessary precautions have been taken to ensure overall public safety and to support the family through this trying period,” he said.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday 23rd March 2020, confirmed 67-year-old Achimugu as the first death from the coronavirus in Nigeria.
The NCDC took to their official twitter handle to announced this, saying:
“The 1st #COVID19 death in Nigeria has been recorded. The case was a 67-year-old male who returned home following medical treatment in the UK
He had underlying medical conditions- multiple myeloma & diabetes & was undergoing chemotherapy Our thoughts are with his family,” the NCDC had twitted
One Abubakar Achimugu, released a statement for the family, confirming the victim as the former MD of PPMC, Suleiman Achimugu, saying:
”Our family is deeply saddened to inform you of the sudden death of our beloved Father, Uncle, Brother and friend. Engr. Suleiman Achimugu (former Md of PPMC).
He died of COVID 19 on 22/03/2020 some days after he arrived in Nigeria from the UK. He was in self-isolation upon his return from the UK and personally called NCDC after experiencing some discomfort that is related to COVID 19 symptoms.
He tested positive and was promptly evacuated to the specialist hospital. He died while receiving treatment. We implore the general public to pray upon his soul and the recovery of infected persons.
Your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated. Please maintain the public social distancing and restriction advice as we all walk through this very difficult time. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites. May Allah SWA have mercy on him,” the family said.