Joseph Bakare
President Muhammadu Buhari has said his family would be celebrating this year’s Eid-el-Fitr alone at home in line with existing lockdown protocols and guidelines issued to muslims by the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI).
Buhari said his family would not be entertaining visitors, including government officials, religious and political leaders.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV, who is the president general of JNI, had directed muslims in the country to mark the Eid celebrations at home in order to avoid further spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Sultan also announced the suspension of Eid congregational prayers across the country.
Buhari, in a statement by his senior media assistant, Garba Shehu, on Friday, said himself and family would observe the directives put in place “to save lives and protect people from all dangers.”
Shehu said 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.”