In the wake of the renewed onslaught against the COVID-19
pandemic, Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Malam Muhammad
Musa Bello has banned congregational prayers at the National Eid
ground in Abuja, restricting all Eid-il-Fitr prayers to
neighbourhood Juma’at Mosques.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
![image](/2021/05/store.Nairalaw.jpg")
The decision was taken at a meeting between the Federal Capital
Territory Administration FCTA 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 prayers for the
Eid-il-Fitr celebrations.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Anthony Ogunleye in a
statement on Tuesday said Malam Bello thanked the religious leaders
for their cooperation in the course of the battle against COVID-19
in the FCT and said 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.
“Consequently, 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 on Monday, 10th
May 2021, the following guidelines are hereby issued:
“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 neighbourhood 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 centres are
to be closed”, he stated.
The statement added that at the end of the meeting, the Chairman
of the FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen Mohammed Bello
Adigun, who spoke on behalf of the League, 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”.
Dr Adigun added that “based on this and what we are convinced
of, we urge Muslim Ummah to also respect this stand of the
Administration of the FCT by observing our Eid prayers within our
localities”
In the wake of the renewed onslaught against the COVID-19
pandemic, Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Malam Muhammad
Musa Bello has banned congregational prayers at the National Eid
ground in Abuja, restricting all Eid-il-Fitr prayers to
neighbourhood Juma’at Mosques.
The decision was taken at a meeting between the Federal Capital
Territory Administration FCTA 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 prayers for the
Eid-il-Fitr celebrations.
Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Anthony Ogunleye in a
statement on Tuesday said Malam Bello thanked the religious leaders
for their cooperation in the course of the battle against COVID-19
in the FCT and said 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.
“Consequently, 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 on Monday, 10th
May 2021, the following guidelines are hereby issued:
“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 neighbourhood 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 centres are
to be closed”, he stated.
The statement added that at the end of the meeting, the Chairman
of the FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen Mohammed Bello
Adigun, who spoke on behalf of the League, 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”.
Dr Adigun added that “based on this and what we are convinced
of, we urge Muslim Ummah to also respect this stand of the
Administration of the FCT by observing our Eid prayers within our
localities”