Last week, reports surfaced that the president’s top aides, including Tijani Umar, the president’s permanent secretary in the State House; Yusuf Dodo, the president’s aide-de-camp (ADC); Aliyu Musa, the president’s chief security officer (CSO); and Garba Shehu, the president’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, had tested positive for COVID-19 and were being kept in isolation.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, it was reported that activities at the Aso Rock Villa had been halted.

The development of COVID-19 infections in the Aso Villa, according to reports, may be traced back to President Buhari’s son Yusuf Buhari’s installation as a district head (Talban Daura) in Katsina.

One source revealed that most of those that have tested positive for the virus are too close to Buhari, hence the need to monitor the president’s health.

“Aso Rock has now been deserted over the number of President Buhari’s aides that have contracted COVID-19. Currently, President Buhari is being monitored by health officials. Plans for the President to go to Katsina have been stepped down for now.

“The recent spread of the virus at the Aso Rock was traced to his son, Yusuf’s coronation ceremony in Katsina,” another source told SaharaReporters.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila were among those present for Yusuf’s coronation on December 18.

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State was in attendance, as was his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

Nasiru Ado Bayero, Emir of Bichi in Kano State; Ali Modu Sheriff, former Governor of Borno; and members of the Katsina State House of Assembly were also present.

Buhari and his wife, Aisha, were unable to attend due to their attendance at the third Turkey-African Partnership Summit in Turkey at the time.