A former managing director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) has become the first person to die of the COVID-19 in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the death via Twitter on Monday.
Suleiman Achimugu, 67, according to the NCDC, had underlying medical issues and had been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and only returned to the country recently.
He died at 2 am on Monday.
The Kogi native was said to have returned from the UK a fortnight ago.
He began showing symptoms of the virus on Tuesday before his case was reported to the NCDC which took his blood sample for a test.
Achimugu was evacuated to the specialist hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT after being tested positive.
The family, in a statement issued by Abubakar Achimugu, said the deceased had been buried according to Islamic rites.
The statement read: “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 Nigeria from the UK. He was in self-isolation upon his return from the UK and personally called NCDC after experiencing some discomfort that are 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 deceased’s family is said to have been quarantined.
There are 36 confirmed cases of the virus in Nigeria, though two persons have been released after testing negative.
