COVID-19: FG places 7 states on red alert, asks governors, emirs to suspend eid Durbar

Ahead of this year’s Eid-el-Adha, the Federal Government has urged northern governors, emirs and other stakeholders to suspend the Durbar activities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said this on Sunday in a statement in Abuja.

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The Durbar is one of the major activities marking eid celebration or for special occasions especially in the north with colourful parades of procession of the emirs, their entourage and others on horses.

This is as the government puts six states and FCT on red alert and recommended preventive measures for safe eid celebration.

According to the SGF, 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,” Mustapha said.

He said that the recommendation followed the confirmation of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 and the rising number of infections and hospitalisation in the country.

“The PSC shall continue to minimise 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,” he said.

He also listed the preventive measures for a safe Eid-el-Kabir celebration as decentralisation of Eid Prayer to neighbourhood Friday Prayer Mosques (outdoor); suspension of Durbar activities; and observation of limitations on all Indoor gatherings.