Buhari to receive visitors at Aso Villa during Sallah — first time in two years

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says President Muhammadu Buhari will receive about 100 visitors at the Aso Villa during the forthcoming Sallah celebration.

The hosting of guests at the presidential villa comes two years after Sallah homage to the president was suspended in 2020 over the COVID pandemic.

In a statement issued on Friday, Shehu said all visitors will be expected to observe the COVID protocol.

“Two years after the world’s biggest lockdown to slow the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional Sallah homage to the President by the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja returns to the Aso Rock Villa,” the statement reads.

“Although this is a sign of the return to normalcy as infection rates fall to their lowest, those coming on invitation are still required to wear face masks and undergo the linear Covid-19 test at the State House Conference Centre to obtain a negative test result as condition for admittance to the event.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is set to receive the visitors, numbering about 100, at the New State House Banquet Hall at 3:00pm on Sallah Day (Sunday or Monday), itself to be determined by moon sighting to be announced by Islamic authorities in the country.

“Invited Guests for the event, led by Muhammed Musa Bello, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of Service, the Senator and House members from the territory, leadership of the FCT Judiciary, Members of the Cabinet, Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies, Muslim and Christian leaderships in the FCT, Council Chairmen, Traditional Rulers and others who received invitations as listed on the manifest.”