Nigeria s Federal Capital Territory Authorities Ban Eid Prayers On Open Grounds
According to a statement by the Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, the decision was arrived at a meeting of the FCTA and a delegation from the FCT League of Imams Initiative.
by SaharaReporters, New York
May 11, 2021
As part of efforts to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, has banned eid prayers at the National Eid prayer ground along the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway.
According to a statement by the Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, the decision was arrived at a meeting of the FCTA and a delegation from the FCT League of Imams Initiative.
By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA
In the wake of the renewed onslaught against the COVID-19 pandemic, Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has banned congregational prayers at the National Eid ground in Abuja, restricting all Eid-il-Fitr prayers to neighbourhood Juma’at Mosques.
The decision was taken at a meeting between the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA and a delegation from the FCT League of Imams Initiative led by its Chairman, Imam (Dr) Tajudeen M.B Adigun to discuss the modalities of holding prayers for the Eid-il-Fitr celebrations.
Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Anthony Ogunleye in a statement on Tuesday said Malam Bello thanked the religious leaders for their cooperation in the course of the battle against COVID-19 in the FCT and said having gone through a first wave of the pandemic and a second wave that caused more fatalities and had increased number of positives, it was imperative to prevent a possible third wave as is being w
Ogunleye said the delegation led by its Chairman, Imam (Dr) Tajudeen M.B Adigun, met Bello to discuss the modalities for holding eid prayers for the upcoming Eid el-Fitr celebrations.
“All worshippers are enjoined to hold eid prayers outdoors within the premises of their neighborhood Juma’at mosques. Indoor worship are to be limited to less than 50% of installed capacity.
“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 centres are to be closed,” the statement read.