None essential staff of the Aso Villa have been asked to stay away from the State House.

According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper, none essential staff were asked to stay away from the villa.

The move, ANN gathered, is to reduce contact and curb the spread of the coronavirus.

On Monday, March 23, President Muhammadu Buhari‘s chief of staff, Abba Kyari tested positive to coronavirus.

It was further reported that all the aides at the Vice President’s wing of the Villa, except his media aide, did not turn up for work on Monday, March 23. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was also said to have reported late for work on Monday. The VP was said to have arrived office late in the afternoon – a move, presidential sources said was unusual.

On Tuesday, March 24, three staff of the Chief of Staff tested positive to coronavirus (COVID-19).

It was also reported that the villa is on a gradual lockdown.

The first case of coronavirus was recorded in Nigeria on February 27, 2020.

The cases have since grown to over 40 as confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Lagos State government.

On Monday, March 23, the first death of coronavirus in Nigeria was recorded. The victim was a 67-year-old Nigerian, who returned to Nigeria from the UK, where he had gone for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, two people, including the first case of coronavirus diagnosed in the country, have recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

On Sunday, March 22, the former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar announced that one of his sons has tested positive to coronavirus after returning to Nigeria from Switzerland.

On Tuesday, March 24, Mukhtar Gidado, the media aide to Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, announced that the governor tested positive to coronavirus on Sunday, March 22 after six different tests.