By Daniel Tyokua
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory ,FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello has directed that activities to celebrate 2021 end of Ramadan fast should be low key.
He ordered the modest celebration after a meeting of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and 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 the Eid prayers.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary ,CPS, Anthony Ogunleye, the minister said the decision is necessited by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minister thanked the religious leaders for their cooperation in the course of the battle against COVID-19 in the FCT and said that having gone through a first wave of the pandemic and a second wave that caused more fatalities and had increased number of positives, it was imperative to prevent a possible third wave as is being witnessed in some countries across the world.
According to the statement, the directive is based on presentations made by officials of the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA and the Implementation Guidelines for Phased Restriction of Movement issued by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, recently.
It said, “There will be no Eid prayers at the National Eid prayer ground along the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Expressway (Airport Road)
“All worshippers are enjoined to hold Eid prayers outdoors within the premises of their neighborhood Juma’at mosques.
“Indoor worship are to be limited to less than 50% 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”
