A Former Managing Director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, Suleiman Achimugu has died of the corona virus pandemic.

Achimugu becomes the first death case to be recorded in the country.

Meanwhile, the family of the victim has released a statement identifying him as Suleiman Achimugu

The statement which was signed by Abubakar Achimugu said the victim was in self-isolation upon his return from the UK and personally called NCDC after experiencing some discomfort that is related to COVID 19 symptoms.

“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 in 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.

Suleiman Achimugu

“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,” the statement read in part.

The victim has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

The  Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, had announced that the death case was a 67-year-old male who returned home following medical treatment in the UK is the first death recorded.

He had underlying medical conditions- multiple myeloma and diabetes and was undergoing chemotherapy.

The NCDC however says that of the total figure, Lagos State and the FCT have recorded 24 and six confirmed cases of COVID-19 being the highest in the country.