President Buhari to Hold Private Eid Prayers With Family as Nigeria Continues to Battle COVID-19

As Muslims all over the world mark the Eid Fitri celebration this weekend, President Buhari has said he will be conducting his Eid prayers with his family at home and not at any of the prayer grounds where he has over the years joined other Muslims for the Eid congregational prayers.

A statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, says the decision of the President is in line with the lockdown measures in the Federal Capital Territory, that was put in place “to save lives and protect people from all dangers.”

He added that the President is also obeying 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.

The presidential spokesperson further stated that 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.