Sallah festivities in Kano, Jigawa and Niger states as well as Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna state have been put off during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
This, Blueprint learnt, was in line with the recent alarm raised by the federal government on the likelihood of COVID-19 variant in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers and the FCT among others.
Chairman Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha had, Sunday, placed six states and the FCT on red alert.
Kano
Announcing the cancellation of the festivities Monday in Kano, the state commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba, said the Eid prayers would hold in all the five emirates and mosques across the state.
He said the development was part of measures adopted by Nigeria, like most parts of the African continent now facing a COVID-19 third wave after detecting the more transmissible Delta variant.
Garba said the red alert made authorities in the affected states to restrict celebrations and gatherings to a minimum, particularly the traditional Durbar (Hawan Sallah) usually marked by colourful horse riding events watched by large gatherings.
The commissioner also urged the public to observe the safety protocols that involved use of face masks, hand washing, and distancing during Eid prayer.
Niger
Similarly, Niger state Governor Abubakar Sani Bello suspended Durbar activities during the Sallah period and directed prayers be conducted in neighbourhood and Juma’at mosque in observation of COVID-19 protocols.
The governor’s chief press secretary, Mary Noel-Berje announced this in a message issued Monday in Minna, the state capital.
She said: “Following the confirmation of Delta Variant of COVID-19 in the country, six States and the Federal Capital Abuja have been placed on red alert hence, the State Governor has directed that Eid Prayers should be conducted in neighbourhood Jumma’at Mosques.”
Also the governor said Durbar activities remained suspended and urged the people to continue observing all established COVID-19 protocols.
Governor Bello charged the Ummah to imbibe the teachings of Eid-el-Kabir and reflect on the great lessons of the festival of sacrifice which he described as “a core tenet of the Islamic faith.”
He said the celebration should remind the Muslim Ummah and, indeed, all humanity of the need to make personal sacrifices to enhance the common good and collective interests of the people.
He stressed the need for the Muslims to be submissive, obedient, patient and trust in Allah to direct and guide them to the right path as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim’s submission to Allah’s command.
The governor further said: “Although the dwindling economy of the nation is taking its toll on the people, it is nonetheless, rewarding to share and care for the less privileged and the vulnerable people in the society stressing that the festival calls for love towards humanity.”
He said his administration had continued to execute projects across the state which he said, “also placed it on a trajectory of economic prosperity that will, in few years from now, enhance sustainable growth and development of the state.”
Jigawa
Also announcing similar measures Monday in Dutse, the Jigawa State Government suspended all Durbar activities in the five Emirate Councils in the state.
Secretary to the State Government Adamu Abdulkadir Fanini said this in a statement.
The statement also directed the decentralisation of Eid Prayer to neighbourhood Friday prayer mosques outdoor and observation of limitations on all indoors gathering.
Fanini said the Mustapha-led committee advised all states to heighten their state of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols put in place, given the renowned greater ease of spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
The statement further felicitated with the “Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el- Kabir celebration and urged the general public and religious Leaders in the State to be mindful of the potential for wider spread of the Virus during large gatherings.”
Zazzau emirate
In a related development, the Zazzau Emirate Council in Kaduna state has joined other traditional institutions in some parts of the country in cancelling the traditional sallah festivity, including horse riding to mark Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
This was contained in a statement by Secretary to the Emirate, Alhaji Barau Musa Aliyu Sarkin Fulani Zazzau, and made available to journalists in Zaria Monday.
“The traditional Sallah festivity has been cancelled as a result of insecurity that touches almost every part of the country and Covid-19 pandemic.
“In view of the above normal prayers to mark the Eld-el-Kabir will be performed at various Eid grounds in the domain as usual.
“His Highness the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed has directed all District Head to perform prayers with subject at their various Districts,” the statement said.
Also, Emir of Zazzau Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli has drawn the attention of both the federal and the state governments on the abject poverty being faced by the citizens.
In a Sallah message Monday, the Emir said the common man was being subjected to serious hardship occasioned by economic crises.
Bamalli said there was the need for government at all levels to find out way of cushioning the negative effect of this poverty faced by common man.
He, however, lauded the Kaduna state government for its people- oriented projects in the state and its outstanding performance.
The traditional ruler enjoined citizens of the state to keep praying for divine intervention against the current insecurity across the state.
FCT assures of safety
And in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, residents have been assured of their security and safety during the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations.
This assurance was given by FCTA Permanent Secretary Olusade Adesola at the monthly FCT Security Committee meeting.
Olusade, who chaired the meeting, said “there will be intensified patrol operations as well as an increase in intelligence operations which will be carried out individually and jointly by the various security organisations in the FCT.”
He said the meeting resolved that security agencies continue to work in unison as a family for the security of the FCT, which according to him, was largely responsible for the peace and stability in the entire area.
He also revealed that the security agencies had made breakthroughs in the fight against organised crime with the recent arrest of the leaders of a major “one-chance” syndicate responsible for many criminal activities in the FCT.
Speaking on the on-going removal of shanties, squatter settlements and illegal residences along the airport road, Olusade said “the exercise which will extend to other illegal settlement across the FCT is intended to ensure that hoodlums that have hitherto dominated those environment will no longer have bases from which to operate.”
“If you don’t have any legitimate business, you cannot use Abuja as your safe haven,” the permanent secretary said.
Police too
In a related development, the FCT Police Command has deployed proactive measures within the city, especially at strategic places such as recreational parks/centres, worship centres and major highways among others, to ensure that resident enjoy a hitch-free celebration.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Yusuf Mariam announced this Monday in Abuja.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma, has ordered uninterrupted patrols, diligent stop/search operations and coordinated intelligence-based crime fighting strategies within the FCT during the celebration.
“On this note, the Command wishes FCT residents a Happy Sallah celebration and implores them to promptly report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through these numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883; also to report the conduct of Police Officers, call the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) number: 0902222235,” the statement said.
Ortom urges prayer
And in his Sallah message, Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom has urged Nigerians to continue to pray and support the peace and unity of the country.
In a statement by his chief press secretary, Terver Akase, the governor said the current spate of insecurity where hundreds of school children were kidnapped daily in parts of the country, armed herders frequently attack farming communities and kill many people, as well as other acts of terrorism can only be surmounted if security agencies got the right support.
He said the safety of lives and property in all parts of the state would remain his administration’s priority.
The governor said “Eid-el-Kabir offers all Muslims the opportunity to exemplify the virtues of piety, honesty, charity and generosity, according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.”
Lawan calls for prayers
In yet another message, President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan has called on Nigerians to continue working and praying for peace, unity and progress of the country.
Lawan said though the current challenges were painful, “but Nigerians should see it as a passing phase in our historical process of nation-building.”
He said the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was determined “that we get the challenges behind us and steady our nation’s march to its manifest destiny of greatness.”
He assured that the “Ninth Senate and entire National Assembly will continue to facilitate the legislative environment needed for the success of all the efforts at the Public and Private Sectors targeted at the security, peace and prosperity of Nigeria.
“In this respect, I will like to restate our resolute commitment to our Legislative Agenda as set out shortly after the inauguration of the Assembly in 2019.
“I am proud that we have kept faith with our promises, as contained in that Agenda, to the Nigerian People as their Parliament.
“The promises kept include passing the Petroleum Industry Bill(PIB) that had lingered for close to two decades. We finally broke that jinx.
“We have also passed the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill to further strengthen and enhance the integrity of our electoral processes.
“We believe the two critical legislations will positively impact our economy and democracy.
“Even before we passed the Electoral Act 2020 Amendment Bill, we had passed the Electoral Offences Commission Bill to check these offences.
“Also worth mentioning is the hard work our Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is doing to get its report ready for consideration as soon as we resume from our current summer vacation.
“We hope to consider the report this year before considering the 2022 Appropriation Bill and transmit the outcome to the state Houses of Assembly for their consideration.
“We are confident that the new Constitution that will emerge from this exercise will substantially address all the areas of genuine concerns to patriotic Nigerians,” Lawan further said.
“As we mark Eid-el-Kabir, I urge us to continue adhering to the COVID-19 protocols so as to protect us and the society at large against the virus.
“We have been alerted by the health authourities that the Delta variant of the virus has surfaced in Nigeria. It requires strict adherence to the protocols already outlined by the health authorities to prevent the spread. Therefore, let us not lower our guards.”
