Notable Nigerians Who Have Died From COVID-19

To date, over 28,000 people in Nigeria have contracted the coronavirus and 645 people have died from the disease. Each of these deaths devastated the families and friends of the deceased patients, but some of them affected the whole country. Here are the most notable Nigerians who have died from COVID-19.

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1. Abba Kyari

Perhaps, the first widely reported death related to the coronavirus in Nigeria was the passing of Abba Kyari, President Buhari’s Chief of Staff and one of the top aides to the President of Nigeria. Kyari is believed to have contracted COVID-19 in March while visiting Germany. In late March, after returning from his stay in Germany, Abba Kyari tested positive for the coronavirus. The President’s aide received treatment, but his older age and underlying health conditions led to Abba Kyari’s death from the complications of the coronavirus on April 17.


Read more: The No.1 Warning Sign That You Have Coronavirus


2. Jonathan Adewumi

Jonathan Adewumi lived in New York at the time of his death from COVID-19 and for decades before that, but he was still an extremely influential people for Nigerians living in their home country and overseas. After moving to the US as a child, Jonathan has helped popularize Nigerian culture and cuisine in the US and was always helping fellow Nigerians make it big in the US. Adewumi died from the complications of COVID-19 in late April and was 57 years old at the time of his death.

3. Abiola Ajimobi

One of the latest coronavirus-related deaths of notable people in Nigeria happened on June 25. The two-time governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, has died from COVID-19 at the age of 70. The former governor had several underlying health conditions and battled the coronavirus for a while before losing his fight. Abiola Ajimobi’s death was first falsely reported a week before the governor succumbed to the disease and his family had to deny the claims that their beloved husband and father has died at that time.


Read more: WHO Lists Diseases That Cause COVID-19 Deaths


4. Emeka Chugbo

On April 15, an acclaimed Nigerian doctor Emeka Chugbo died from the complications of the coronavirus. The doctor was admitted into a Lagos hospital two days before his death, but his symptoms were too severe by this point to guarantee recovery from the disease. Emeka Chugbo is believed to have contracted COVID-19 from an infected patient at his private practice, and his death brought light to the issue of testing the patients for the coronavirus before treating them in person.

5. Dan Foster

Dan Foster was one of the most influential figures in the Nigerian radio scene. The US-born performer moved to Nigeria in 2000 to headline his own morning show and his presenting style instantly resonated with the public and made millions of people fall in love with his charm, wit, and humour. Dan Foster died on June 17 in a Lagos hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus. He was 61 years old at the time of his death and is survived by his wife and four children.


Read more: Life After COVID-19! Five Things That Might Never Go Back To Normal


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My name is Inna. I am a content writer with an English and literature background. As a mother of a 4-year old son, I love learning about children’s health and development, as well as finding new interesting toys and activities for my little one. I am also in love with all things tech and always keep my finger on the pulse of new smartphone and gadget releases. Another big passion of mine is beauty and makeup – every day I read about new trends in skin care and makeup and always look forward to trying them. Plus, I love pop culture, travelling, crafts, and anything that can make our daily life more thrilling!