The Kano State government and Zazzau Emirate Council have announced the cancellation of all Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah) festivities, in compliance with the federal government’s placing of six states on red alert including Kano and Kaduna State.
The Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 on Saturday recommended the suspension of all Sallah durbar activities as well as centralized eid gatherings in six states, following the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
The affected states are Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the FCT.
In a statement on Monday, the Kano state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, however, said that the Eid prayers would be held in all the five emirates and mosques across the state but durbar and other festivities would not hold.
He said the development was part of measure adopted by Nigeria, like most parts of the African continent now facing a COVID-19 third wave after detecting the more transmissible Delta variant.
Mr Garba said the red alert allows authorities in the affected states to restrict celebrations and gatherings to a minimum, particularly the traditional Durbar (Hawan Sallah) which is marked by colourful horse riding events watched by large gatherings.
On its part, the Zazzau Emirate Council, in a statement by its secretary, Barau Aliyu, said the council, chaired by the emir, has cancelled this year’s Eid-el-Kabir durbar due to security reasons and COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement however said Eid prayer would be held in all eid grounds across the emirate.
