Africa’s Richest Man Faces COVID-19 Scare As He’s Spotted With 2 Persons Who Just Tested Positive
The confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria has gone up to 44 and 1 fatality has been recorded so far. And as that case count keeps rising, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, might be at risk.
Today, Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, was confirmed to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus few days after he returned from a trip to Germany.
While Kyari is getting much-needed medical attention, it seems Dangote will have to self-quarantine for a while because, not too long ago, he was spotted in close proximity to both Kyari and a Nigerian State Governor who had just tested positive for COVID-19.
Bala Kaura, the Governor of Bauchi State in Northern Nigeria, who was announced to have positive to the virus earlier today (24/03/2020), was spotted with Dangote at a function that took place on Wednesday, 18 March.
Based on the incubation period of the virus, it is highly likely that both Kyari and Kaura had been carrying the virus during their meetings with Dangote and based on the mode of spread of COVID-19, Africa’s richest man faces significant risk.
#COVID19: Dangote, Aminu Masari, Ganduje, Sarki Abba, Lawal Kazaure, Garba Shehu attend IGP son’s wedding in Abuja with Abba Kyari.
What keeps people at the bottom of the ladder is hard work, what keeps people at the top is SENSITIVITY. pic.twitter.com/QrbuMixgf0
— AyeMojubar ? (@ayemojubar) March 24, 2020
Dangote was pictured in close proximity to Kyari and several others at the wedding of the son of Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, which took place last Saturday. Among other political office holders who caught up with Kyari were Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State and Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. All of them will no have to self-quarantine.
Abba Kyari at IG of police sons wedding last Saturday at Annur mosque with Aliko Dangote, Governor Masari and Gov Ganduje among others. Kyari just tested positive to the Coronavirus. Everyone in this picture needs to self-isolate! pic.twitter.com/4vFBI4cmvq
— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) March 24, 2020
Dangote, who is worth USD 8.1 Bn, is the richest man in Africa. Last week, it was reported that an expat at the ongoing Dangote Fertilizer Plant/Refinery — which is supposed to be the largest installation of its kind in the world — was showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. That expat was later reported to have tested negative.
Dangote, 62, who in the last few days has been spotted with two individuals who have now tested positive to COVID-19, might get some comfort in the knowledge that President Buhari, tested negative despite seeing his widely-publicised right-hand-man, Kyari, testing positive.
Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 17,000 lives and infected nearly 400,000 persons, though over 108,000 people have recovered.
