The government of the Federal Capital Territory has issued guidelines for the observance of Eid prayer on Tuesday, July 21.
A statement today, July 17 by the spokesperson to the minister, said that a meeting of stakeholders expressed worry that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and the FCT has been on the increase, and may result into a third wave.
The statement said that guided by the advice of the health professionals, the following guidelines are hereby issued for the upcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations in the FCT;
All Eid prayers in the FCT are to be held in the open spaces at Jumaat Mosques as well as the National Eid Ground. This is based on medical advice that it is safer to hold large gatherings in open air spaces than in enclosed structures;
All open Eid grounds should have multiple entry and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities;
The holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50% to ensure physical/social distancing;
Imams should ensure that sermons are short so that the entire Eid prayers do not exceed one hour;
All parks and recreational grounds and facilities shall remain closed throughout the festive period, and
Worshippers are enjoined to adhere to all prescribed non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing.
The stakeholders meeting, headed by the minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the FCT Authority, Olusade Adesola; the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu; the Coordinator, WHO FCT Office, Dr. Furera Zakari; the Acting Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Muhammed Kawu; Chairman, FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen M.B Adigun; Head of Media and Publicity , FCT Enforcement Task Team, Mr Ikharo Attah and others.
