President Muhammadu Buhari has said there will not be receiving Eid-el-Fitr homages from various communities this year.
The President will observe Eid-el-Fitr prayers privately with his family to mark the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Friday, that the development became imperative as part of the guidelines on social distancing to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
The Presidency noted that the President had over the years, traditionally received Sallah homages from various groups, including top government officials, political leaders, community heads, Muslim and Christian religious leaders and children.
However, it said these have been canceled.
“This is in observance of the lockdown measures in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, put in place “to save lives and protect people from all dangers.”
“This is also in line with the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III suspending Eid congregational prayers across the country as well as the protocol against mass gathering issued by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
“Further to this, the President who has traditionally shared the joyous moment with top government officials, political leaders, community heads, Muslim and Christian religious leaders and children, will not be receiving these homages in a bid to stop the coronavirus from further spreading”, the statement read.
