Niger state government will rely on the interpretation of the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Saad Abubakar III, on whether to allow Muslims to observe Eid -el -fitr prayers or not due to coronavirus pandemic.
This was disclosed by the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman Task Force on COVID-19, Ahmed Matane while fielding questions from newsmen in Minna, the state capital.
Matane explained that the sultan is expected to come up with such interpretation like the one he did on Tarawi and Tafsir prayers.
He said this does not mean that Niger state government is not trying to find solution to the problem in-house.
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According to him, they government has been engaging imams through regular interface on the way forward with a view to mitigate the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
He however, noted that observing Eid- el -fitr prayers means a large number of Muslim faithful from all walks of life will converge at the Eid prayer ground without necessarily observing social distancing and other precautionary measures.
Matane who said the state government has not yet decided on either allowing or otherwise of Eid prayers, said pronouncement of government’s stand will be made public soon.
The secretary to the state government also appealed to both Muslims and Christians in the state to continue to obey social distancing, wearing of facemasks and washing of hands in order to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Matane added that the state government on its part will continue to be proactive in ensuring that people from other parts of the country are denied access into Niger state to spread the virus.
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