Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), along with the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), a body led by the Sultan of Sokoto have called on Christians and Muslims in the country to engage in three days fasting and prayers for God to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nigeria is currently facing serious difficulties in its fight against the pandemic. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, as at Thursday, put the total infections in the country at 27,110 cases.
Meanwhile, according to a statement by the Executive Secretary, NIREC, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua, “Muslims will begin on Friday, July 3, 2020 (today) while Christians will end the prayer on Sunday, July 5 in the National Christian Centre.
“These prayers will respect social distancing. NIREC calls on everybody to seek the face of God in fasting and prayers for God to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since April 30, 2020, the Nigeria inter-religious council (NIREC) has been calling on all Christians and Muslims to take part in the national weekly prayer conducted online with zoom meeting every Thursday in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF), the Nigeria television authority (NTA) and UFUK Dialogue Foundation.
“NIREC has called on God’s intervention to stop the spread of the COVID 19 and put a permanent end to the pandemic.
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“We appreciate the efforts of the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 who have done all that is humanly possible to animate and create awareness on how to keep safe from infection of the coronavirus.
“The Constitution of NIREC highlights the duty of the Council to support the efforts of government. The representative of the two Principal Religions – Islam and Christianity – in Nigeria voluntarily decided to come together to form an association on the 11th day of September, 1999, and the association having been inaugurated on the 29th day of September, 1999, guided by our divine revelations and the dictates of our CREATOR, determined, within the context of our religions, to forge inter-religious harmony and concord.
“NIREC firmly and solemnly resolved, within the confines of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to live in unity, harmony and peace for the welfare, security and prosperity of our people and our nation under God (Preamble, Constitution of NIREC, as amended, 12th March, 2020, Page 3).
“In furtherance of this effort, NIREC calls for three days fasting and prayers (July 3-5, 2020) for every Nigerian.
“The Muslims will begin on Friday 3, 2020 by praying in the ABUJA NATIONAL MOSQUE while the Christians will end the Prayer on Sunday, July 5, 2020, in the NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE. These prayers will respect social distance.
“NIREC calls on everybody to seek the face of God in fasting and prayers for God to put an end to the COVID 19 pandemic.”
