From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto
The Government of Sokoto state has warned against the assembling of people during public preachings and voluntary night vigil prayers throughout the Ramadan fasting period across the state.
Similarly, it also announced a ban of all international border markets across the state.
The measures are aimed at checkmating the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal gave the warning Wednesday while receiving a situation report from the Task Force Committee on COVID-19 in the state.
However, warning on public gatherings for Tafsir and Tarawih prayers in the month of Ramadan was an adoption of the recommendation of the Sultanate Council on both.
Tambuwal said the steps were taken in order to regulate the convergence of people in one place, a situation that would only increase the risk of transmission and getting them infected by the COVID -19 disease.
” Instead of the traditional public preaching the state government will now sponsor the online airing of the Tafsir of the Ulamas on television and radio stations in the state”, he disclosed.
On the ban of the markets, the governor said it became necessary as the state task force on COVID-19 had submitted that their existence was contributing to the spread of disease.
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Tambuwal also approved the extension of the existing partial lockdown by two weeks, insisting the enforcement of the ban on inter-state movement must not be compromised.
While seeking for more support from traditional and community leaders in the state in the enforcement of the ban on social gatherings, Tambuwal thanked the Sultanate Council, traditional rulers, security agents, and other stakeholders for their unflinching cooperation so far.
Also, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar lauded the state government for the myriad of measures being taken against the spread of the disease.
Abubakar informed the governor that as the leaders of the Muslim ummah, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs had taken a decision banning all the Tafsir and Tarawih by the Muslim ummah, in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
According to him, he held a meeting with all the Imams and Ulamas in the state where they unanimously consented to the decision while acknowledging and thank the people in the state for their understanding.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ali Inname said, Sokoto state has recorded a single confirmed case on 19th April, 2020.
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