Nigerian President's Chief of Staff dies from coronavirus

The Nigerian president's Chief of Staff Abba Kyari has died from COVID-19, according to a statement released by the presidency.

Kyari is the most high profile person in the country to die in the coronavirus outbreak.

His age was not officially disclosed, although two presidency aides said he was 70.

Several family members were pictured praying as an ambulance carrying his body passed by in Abuja on Saturday. 

Kyari assisted 77-year-old President Muhammadu Buhari after his re-election last year.

Buhari had ordered ministers to channel all communications through him.

Nigeria has 493 confirmed cases and 17 deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.