The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has declared that there will be no Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the National Eid prayer ground on the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway (Airport Road).
This is contained in a statement by the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, Tuesday, in Abuja.
The minister said the directive was part of resolution reached at a meeting between the FCTA and the FCT League of Imams Initiative, led by its Chairman, Tajudeen Adigun.
He explained that the objective of the meeting was to discuss the modalities of holding Eid prayers for the upcoming Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
Bello said all worshippers are enjoined to hold Eid prayers outdoors within the premises of their neighbourhood Juma’at mosques.
According to him, indoor worship is to be limited to less than 50 per cent 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 centers are to be closed.
On his part, the Chairman of the FCT League of Imams Initiative, Adigun, said “In Islam, you listen to experts, those who are specialists, and those who have actually discussed with us are experts in the field of medical sciences.
“In Islam, you also abide with the commands of leadership”.
“Based on this and what we are convinced of, we urge Muslim Ummah to also respect this stand of the Administration by observing our Eid prayers within our localities.”
The federal government on Monday reintroduced the restriction on mass gatherings after a spike in COVID-19 cases recorded in Brazil, India and Turkey.
The Head of the Secretary of Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, who announced this, said effective Tuesday, May 11, event centres and non-essential public places such as night clubs would remain closed till further notice.
