A Nigerian has died from the disease, COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the first death recorded in the country on its twitter page on Monday saying;
“The 1st COVID-19 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 victim has been identified to be the former managing director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr. Suleiman Achimugu.
Sulieman just returned from the UK just two weeks ago and just last week Tuesday, he started showing symptoms of the virus and was immediately reported to NCDC and a test was performed using his blood sample which came out positive.
He was evacuated to a specialist hospital, Gwagwalada in Abuja which is the same hospital Atiku’s son is being treated, but unfortunately, Sulieman died while getting treatment.
His family has been placed under compulsory quarantine to detect if they also have the virus in them. Mr. Suleiman Achimugu is from Kano state and he has been buried according to a statement by the family.
The statement reads;
“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),” the statement read.
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.”
