Health
COVID-19: Sultan orders closure of all mosques in Abuja
Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III CFR
President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has ordered the immediate closure of all mosques in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The Sultan, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the development is in line with the efforts of the federal government to stem the steady spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19.
The statement, released by the NSCIA, Director of Administration, Alhaji Yusuf Nwoha explained that the decision was taken after wide consultations with all relevant stakeholders in the country.
It reads: “The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA under the leadership of its President General, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and Sultan of Sokoto, after consultations with Muslim scholars and other relevant stakeholders, has today the 23rd March, 2020 ordered the immediate shutdown of all mosques in the Federal Capital territory.
“As hard as this decision is, it became necessary that Muslims should join hands with federal government and its agencies in the sustained fight against the spread of the virulent COVID-19 which the World Health Organization, WHO has since declared a pandemic.
“The decision to close-down mosques is not alien to Islamic tradition and culture as it could be traced to the time of our noble Prophet (S.A.W). In such situation, the (Mu’adhdhin) is asked to inform the believers to pray in their dwellings.
“The NSCIA, therefore, solicits the cooperation of the Imams and all Muslims in the FCT to ensure compliance to this directive as it is in the interest of all and sundry. May Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala assist humanity to stop the spread of this deadly disease and protect us all, Ameen.”
It would recalled that the continued spread of COVID-19 pandemic which was first announced on February 27 when an Italian citizen in Lagos tested positive for the virus, has caused lockdown in many parts of the country to stem its further spread.
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