As Nigerian leaders device every available strategy to contain the rampaging coronavirus pandemic that has put the world in a tailspin, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Monday ordered the immediate closure of all the event centers in the state.
This is as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is also the Sultan of Sokoto, also on Monday ordered the immediate shutdown of all mosques in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ganduje also ordered that there should not be more than 20 people in any gathering.
In a special live broadcast to the people of the state on Monday, he explained that COVID-19 is now a global pandemic which has killed many across the world.
He said the government has also suspended all official engagements and ordered the State Ministry of Tourism and Culture to call the attention of owners of all Event Centres in the state to suspend all activities till further notice.
Ganduje maintained that in an effort to curtail the spread of the virus, his administration had constituted a high-level task force headed by the Deputy Governor Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gwauna.
According to him, ” Prevention they say is better than cure. This is why our administration is taking a preventive measure to close down all private and public schools in Kano state”
He noted that religious and traditional institutions have been charged to collaborate efforts with the state government in enlightening the public.
He further appealed to members of the General public to adhere to the advice of medical professionals in observing personal and environmental hygiene aimed at achieving the set targets.
In ordering the immediate shutdown of all mosques in the Federal Capital territory (FCT), the Sultan said the development is in line with the efforts of the Federal Government to stem the steady spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
A statement in Abuja by the NSCIA Director of Administration, Yusuf Nwoha said: “The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its President General, Alh. 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 across all the protect us all, ameen”.