(Ilorin)
Kwara State Government on Friday, announced the cancellation of Eid-ul-adha congregational prayers across the state, citing the steep rise in the state’s COVID-19 cases and the danger of such a large gathering worsening the situation.
The government also banned vigils in churches and mosques while restating the ban on concert, clubbing, beer parlour and bar in hotels.
Kayode Alabi, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, told a news briefing in Ilorin that the decision to cancel the Eid prayers was a painful but necessary one to save lives.
He said government was setting up a task force to enforce all the new directives, including new guidelines on transport unions and market associations.
The Kwara State shopping mall (Shoprite), the Amusement Park, markets, and University of Ilorin Zoological Garden are to close down on Eid Day and the day after Eid, according to the Deputy Governor.
The Imam Imale, Sheikh AbdulHameed, re-echoed the worries of the state government and called on the people to abide by the directives on Eid and other decisions taken, following consultations with various stakeholders, including the Council of Ulamah.
“The state government has our full support accordingly and we urge our people to abide by the directives,” he said.
Pastor Moses Popoola,on his part, expressed the support of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN)for the government’s directives, including the one on vigil, adding that those decisions had been taken to save human lives.
Speaking further, the Police of Police in the state,Kayode Egbetokun, said the security agencies would enforce the directives, urging residents of the state to comply.
“It is really not about arrest. This is about human lives. All of us have a role to play in enforcing the directives and combat this pandemic. I want to state, however, that we will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute violators,” he warned.
