President Muhammadu Buhari said that
he had promised Nigerians that the steps placed in place to curtail coronavirus
spread would not be longer than required.
he had promised Nigerians that the steps placed in place to curtail coronavirus
spread would not be longer than required.
The statement released on Saturday was
signed by the President’s Senior Media and Publicity Special Assistant, Malam
Garba Shehu. President Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigerians that the steps
placed in place to curtail coronavirus spread will not be longer than required.
signed by the President’s Senior Media and Publicity Special Assistant, Malam
Garba Shehu. President Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigerians that the steps
placed in place to curtail coronavirus spread will not be longer than required.
He said this in a statement containing
his message to Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr.
his message to Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr.
Buhari was quoted as saying that
COVID-19, who took the world off balance and put a damper on what might
otherwise have been “a moment of joy for the Muslim faithful to mark the
end of the Ramadan fasting season.”
COVID-19, who took the world off balance and put a damper on what might
otherwise have been “a moment of joy for the Muslim faithful to mark the
end of the Ramadan fasting season.”
The Nigerian leader commended the
sacrifices rendered by both Muslims and Christians for their support in the
enforcement of the Social Distance Guidelines.
sacrifices rendered by both Muslims and Christians for their support in the
enforcement of the Social Distance Guidelines.
He told Nigerians that “the
lock-down steps should not be longer than required as they would be checked
from time to time to ease the growing burdens on the nation.
lock-down steps should not be longer than required as they would be checked
from time to time to ease the growing burdens on the nation.
“I am well aware of the
inconvenience caused by these tough measures to the lives of Nigerians,
including the limitation of religious activities and gatherings in large
numbers.
inconvenience caused by these tough measures to the lives of Nigerians,
including the limitation of religious activities and gatherings in large
numbers.
“No government would deliberately
enforce such stringent and punishing policies on its people if it had a
preference.”
enforce such stringent and punishing policies on its people if it had a
preference.”
The retired general also appealed to
Nigerians, “whose businesses and livelihoods have been severely affected
by the prolonged lock-up of their understanding and cooperation.”
Nigerians, “whose businesses and livelihoods have been severely affected
by the prolonged lock-up of their understanding and cooperation.”
He said, “For the first time in recent
years, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the people’s spiritual,
social, and economic lives.
years, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the people’s spiritual,
social, and economic lives.
”This year’s fasting period was
particularly challenging for Muslims because they had to forgo many important
aspects of their daily worship, including the routine congregations for prayer
and the recitation and interpretation of the Holy Qur’an as well as traveling
for the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah.
particularly challenging for Muslims because they had to forgo many important
aspects of their daily worship, including the routine congregations for prayer
and the recitation and interpretation of the Holy Qur’an as well as traveling
for the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah.
“It is not easy to give up many of
these important duties and activities, but it became imperative to do so in
order to control or limit the spread of this deadly disease.”
these important duties and activities, but it became imperative to do so in
order to control or limit the spread of this deadly disease.”
He also encouraged people with the
means to continue supporting their neighbours and the less well-to-do “so
that we can all recover healthier and more united from this pandemic.”
means to continue supporting their neighbours and the less well-to-do “so
that we can all recover healthier and more united from this pandemic.”
The President told the Muslim faithful
that “this year’s Eid event is an opportunity for sober reflection rather
than celebration because of the long shadows of darkness that the coronavirus
has cast on people’s lives.”
that “this year’s Eid event is an opportunity for sober reflection rather
than celebration because of the long shadows of darkness that the coronavirus
has cast on people’s lives.”
