The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed that this 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 in the face of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement by Anthony Ogunleye, the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister explained.
Ogunleye said the decision followed a meeting of the FCT Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) on COVID-19, chaired by the Minister of the FCT Muhammad Musa Bello, convened on Friday, July 16, 2021, to review the current situation of the pandemic in the FCT especially as it relates to the upcoming Sallah celebrations.
He states that the meeting noted the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and the FCT and the possibility of a third wave and sought for ways to curtail its spread.
” Thus, guided by the advice of the health professionals, the following guidelines are hereby issued for the upcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations in the FCT,” Ogunleye wrote.
“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.”
According to him, all open Eid grounds should have multiple entry and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities.
He noted that the holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50 per cent to ensure physical/social distancing.
Imams, he said, 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.”
Also In attendance at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Coordinator, WHO FCT Office, Dr Furera Zakari, the Ag Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Muhammed Kawu, the Chairman, FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen M.B Adigun ,the Head of Media and Publicity , FCT Enforcement Task Team, Ikharo Attah and other relevant officials of the FCTA.
ANTHONY OGUNLEYE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
17/07/2021
