The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has placed a ban on Eid al-fitr prayers at the National Eid prayer ground along the Umaru Musa Yar’adua expressway (Airport Road), in Abuja.
The minister made the announcement in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Bello explained that the decision was reached during a meeting between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and a delegation from the FCT League of Imams Initiative led by its Chairman, Imam Tajudeen M.B Adigun.
The Minister also noted that the decision is to curtail the further spread of the COVID-19 virus following the recent surge in cases and deaths recorded across the world, particularly in India, Turkey and Brazil.
According to him, the decision is only a precautionary measures to check the spread of the virus, as it is still very much rampant across the globe.
Similarly, the Minister stated that all Eid prayers should be organised outdoors while indoor worship are to be limited to less than 50% of installed capacity.
Bello also urged all Muslims to strictly adhere to the laid down protocols of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, by making use of facemasks, hand washing and observing social distance.
The statement reads, “Consequence, based on presentations made by officials of the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA and the Implementation Guidelines for Phased Restriction of Movement issued by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 on Monday. 10th May 2021, the following guidelines are hereby issued,”
“Religious authorities are advised to regulate the flow of people entering and exiting places of worship.
“All non-pharmaceutical intervention protocols of facial coverings, physical distancing and hand washing are to be observed
“All other Eid celebrations and activities should be confined to homes as all public parks, recreation and entertainment centers are to be closed.”
Nigeria has so far recorded 165,468 cases of the virus out of which 2,065 have died, while 156,300 have been discharged, as of press time.
