The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has expressed concern over the outbreak of coronavirus and urged Nigerian Muslims to offer special prayers and fast over a further spread of the disease in the country.

A statement signed by JNI’s Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, on behalf of the Sultan, who is also the Nigerian Muslims’ spiritual leader, also urged for special fasting among Muslim community on disease.

The Sultan also charged Muslims to observed strict adherence to personal hygiene to halt the spread of the disease.

Apart from all these, he said, Muslims should also preach about the disease in all Mosque and the five daily congregational prayers by Imam(Muslim preachers) in the land.

The Sultan said all agencies charged with the responsibility of protecting the health of the citizenry, particularly, the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control, to be up and doing in their responsibility.

The statement released on Tuesday in Kaduna, read in part:

“Jama’atu Nasril Islam under the leadership of his Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of JNI, is worried and concerned on the spate of the deadly coronavirus(Covid 19) and disturbed by the threat oy poses to life.

“Apart from China, where the infection of the virus started, it spread geometrically to other countries in the world, ranging from Europe. America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Nigeria inclusive

“Each country is taking measures in curbing the plague of the pandemic of Corona Virus, by quarantining the suspiciously infected in order to avoid its spread, while the infected are being treated in special medical facilities.

“All Juma’ah and five daily congregational prayers’ Imams should mount strong advocacy and enlightenment campaign against the scourge and the epidemic nature of the Corona Virus Pandemic.

“They should include in their sermons and preaching the imperatives of taking serious precautionary measures of personal hygiene.

“JNI calls on all Juma’ah and five daily congregational prayer Imams to engage in special prayers during their sermons, preaching and other sessions for Allah’s quick intervention in wiping away the Corona Virus Pandemic and all other Diseases Bedeviling Humanity.

“JNI calls on the government at all levels, especially the agencies charged with the responsibility of protecting the health of the citizenry, particularly the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to do the needful in protecting the health of the citizenry.”