The Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 has recommended the suspension of all Sallah durbar activities as well as centralized eid gatherings in six states, following the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
A statement by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman of the committee, on Saturday said the decision was taken to reduce the spread of the Delta variant in the country.
The committee also advised observation of limitations on all indoor gatherings.
“Following the confirmation of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 and the rising number of infections and hospitalization in the country, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID- 19 (PSC), has put six States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on red alert as part of the preventive measures against a third wave of the pandemic. The States are: Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the FCT.
“The PSC, however, warns that all States of the Federation should heighten their state of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols put in place, given the renowned greater ease of spread of the Delta variant. These steps are critical as we begin to see worrisome early signs of increasing cases in Nigeria.
“The PSC shall continue to minimize the risk of importation of Variants of Concern into the country by strengthening Surveillance at all Points of Entry (POE), enforcing extant quarantine protocols and sustaining the current restrictive measures against travelers arriving from India, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.
“The PSC felicitates with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. It however, urges all State Governments and Religious Leaders to be mindful of the potential for wider spread of the virus during large gatherings.
“The PSC, therefore, recommends the following preventive measures for a safe Eid-el-Kabir celebration: a) Decentralization of Eid Prayer to neighborhood Friday Prayer Mosques (outdoor); b) Suspension of Durbar activities;
