By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
As Muslim faithfuls mark the Eid Kabir, Minister of FCT, Mallam Muhammad Bello has said that in line with the COVID-19 Presidential directives there would be no Eid prayers at the National Mosque but prayers are shifted to the Juma’at mosque premises alone.
In a press release from the Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye, the minister gave this order after a meeting between the FCTA and members of 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 Eid prayers for the upcoming Eid-il-Kabir celebrations.
The statement read that ‘’ there will be no Eid prayers at the National Eid prayer ground along the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Expressway (Airport Road), adding that all worshipers are enjoined to hold Eid prayers in the premises of their neighborhood Juma’at mosques.
Eid prayers should last for a maximum of one hour only between 8 am and 10 am, adding that all other Eid celebrations and activities should be confined to homes as the extant guidelines on the closure of public parks, recreation, entertainment and sporting areas still subsists.
All Religious authorities are advised to regulate the flow of people entering and exiting places of worship and all other health and safety protocols regarding places of worship as earlier issued by the FCTA remain in effect.
At the meeting were the Deputy Chief Imam of the National Mosque Dr Mohammed Kabir, the Secretary of the league of Imam Initiative, Malam Isiaq Zango, Imam Abdullahi Umar Adam of the JIBWIS Mosque and Imam (Dr) Yaqub Alhassan of Nigerian Police Force HQ Mosque. Also present were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Chief Of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Acting Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat Dr Muhammed Kawu the Chairman of the Ministerial Enforcement Task -Team, Mr Ikharo Attah and other senior staff of the FCTA.
