Nigeria has recorded the first death from the coronavirus pandemic in the person of former Managing Director of Petroleum Pipelines Marketing Corporation, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Suleiman Achimugu, who died over night.
Achimugu came back from the United Kingdom two weeks ago and started exhibiting the symptoms last Tuesday.
His family reported to the NCDC, which came to the house and took his blood samples for testing, but were said to never got back to the family.
Family sources said he as of Sunday afternoon, he was coughing profusely, and the family had to call the NCDC to inquire about the test results, which turned out to be positive.
He was subsequently rushed to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital where he died at about 2am.
Meanwhile, his family has been placed under quarantine, while the NCDC will handle his burial arrangements.
In a statement, the family said, “Inna_Lillahi_wa_inna_ilayhi_rajiun. 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.”
