FCT Directs Eid Grounds to Allow 50% Capacity

Olawale Ajimotokan

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed that the holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50 per cent of capacity to ensure physical and social distancing during the upcoming Eid- el-Kabir celebration.

The directive was contained in a statement issued yesterday following a meeting of the FCT Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) on COVID-19 convened by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello.

The FCTA issued the new guidelines for the Eid- el-Kabir celebration aimed at curbing the possibility of a third wave of the spread of COVID-19.

It also charged that all Eid prayers in the FCT are to be held in the open spaces at Jumaat Mosques as well as the National Eid Ground.

The instruction was based on medical advice that it is safer to hold large gatherings in open air spaces than in enclosed structures.

The meeting noted the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and the FCT and the possibility of a third wave and sought for ways to curtail its spread.

The FCTA asked Imams to ensure that sermons are short so that the entire Eid prayers do not exceed one hour.

Also all parks and recreational grounds and facilities shall remain closed throughout the festive period.

Worshippers are enjoined to adhere to all prescribed non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing.

Others who attended the EOC meeting were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Coordinator, WHO FCT Office, Dr Furera Zakari, the Ag Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Muhammed Kawu, the Chairman, FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen M.B Adigun ,the Head of Media and Publicity , FCT Enforcement Task Team, Mr Ikharo Attah and other relevant officials of the FCTA.