COVID-19: I won’t receive any visitor during Eid-el-Fitr, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will be observing Eid-el-Fitr at home with his family owing to the measures put in place to curb COVID-19.

The president said he will not be receiving any visitor during the celebrations.

On Thursday, Sa’ad Abubakar, sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, directed the suspension of Eid-el-Fitr congregational prayers across the country.

In a statement on Friday, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said the president will not entertain visits from top government officials and political leaders during Eid-el-Fitr.

“With the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations around the corner and the month-long Ramadan fast coming to an end, President Muhammadu Buhari will be conducting his Eid prayers with his family at home,” Shehu said.

“This is in observance of the lockdown measures in the federal capital territory, Abuja, put in place to save lives and protect people from all dangers.

“This is also in line with the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III suspending Eid congregational prayers across the country as well as the protocol against mass gathering issued by the presidential task force on COVID-19.

“Further to this, the President, who has traditionally shared the joyous moment with top government officials, political leaders, community heads, Muslim and Christian religious leaders and children, will not be receiving these homages in a bid to stop the coronavirus from further spreading.”