(Minna)
Niger state government has canceled all local ceremonies for the Eid-el Kabir across all the eight Emirate councils and also directed that Eid congregational prayers be conducted in Jumma’at Mosques under strict compliance to COVID-19 safety protocols.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who is also the Chairman, State COVID-19 Task Force, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane disclosed this over the weekend while giving an update on the pandemic in the state.
Matane attributed the ban on usual ceremonies associated with such festivities on government’s effort to curtail the spread of Coronavirus as well as consolidate on the successes recorded in the fight against the pandemic.
“Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello has advised that the conduct of Eid congregational prayers in Jumma’at Mosques across the state be under strict compliance to COVID-19 safety protocols,” Matane said.
While urging all Muslims in the state to use the Eid-el Kabir period for supplications and prayers for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, the SSG reminded residents on the need to report people with questionable characters in their areas to security agencies.
“This year’s Eid-el Kabir has come at a trying moment occasioned by the debilitating effect of the coronavirus pandemic. In order to get rid of the virus completely, Nigerlites must adhere strictly to physical distancing, wearing of face mask and regular hand washing with soap and water and application of hand sanitizers, among others,”he added.
Matane emphasized that the increasing number of Coronavirus necessitated unprecedented changes to the lives of the people and their families, including their children, thereby affecting their socio-economic wellbeing.
While appreciating the dedication and sacrifices made by health workers as the first line of defence, urged them to sustain the tempo with a view to achieving the set objectives of wiping out coronavirus from Niger state.
Duaglobalnews recalls that the neighbouring Kwara state also took similar decision on the festival few days ago, to check the spread of the virus that recorded more than 38,000 cases with hundreds of deaths in Nigeria.
Globally, there are more than 14.6 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 700,000 death.
The was first reported in Wuhan in China on December 31,2019 and reported in Nigeria on February 27,2020.
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