All religious leaders are advised to suspend congregational worships in Kaduna state for the next 30 days, Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai has said.
The religious congregation includes gatherings such as Friday Juma’at prayers, daily congregational prayers and Sunday services of churches as part of bid to curtail the chances of spreading COVID-19.
The state government has also closed schools including nursery and primary schools, secondary schools and all tertiary institutions in the state with effect from Monday, March 23, 2020 for 30 days.
In a statement issued and signed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye noted that the administration was taking a cue from the decision of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ”the cradle of Islam, not to hold Juma’at prayers in the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madina.”
”In many Muslim-majority countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, members of the public are encouraged to pray at home, and not congregate as is the practice in normal times,’’ he said.
The statement added that Christian faithful should learn from the experience of many Christian-majority countries like Italy, France and Germany.
”Pastors as well as congregants are expected to abide by public health advice and avoid gatherings in churches. Other means of worship and fellowship should be adopted in much smaller numbers of not more than 10 persons, for now.”
Adekeye noted that, though, there was no reported cases of COVID-19 in Kaduna so far, it’s a collaborative effort to see that the disease is monitored.
He insisted that no gatherings should be more than 50 persons. ”Social gatherings in parties, bars, restaurants, night clubs, public parks and such places are suspended until further notice.’’
