Christians, Muslims Declare Fasting, Prayer against COVID-19

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Samson Ayokunle in conjunction with the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar Mohammadu III have called for a three-day fasting and prayer (tagged NINEVEH) from July 3 to 5 throughout the country.

The prayer is to seek total defeat of COVID-19 in Nigeria and all over the world.

The Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has been calling on all Christians and Muslims to take part in the national weekly prayer conducted online every Thursday in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF) and other stakeholders.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the General Secretary of CAN, Mr. Joseph Daramola: “The NIREC leadership appreciates 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.

“In furtherance of this effort, NIREC calls for three days fasting and prayers (July 3 to 5,2020) for every Nigerian. The Muslims will begin on Friday, July 3, 2020 by praying in the Abuja National Mosque while we Christians will end the prayer on Sunday, July 5, 2020 in the National Christian Centre, Abuja at 3:00pm. Selected Christian leaders have been invited to participate in this all-important programme.

“These prayers will respect social distancing. NIREC has asked everybody to seek the face of God in fasting and prayers for God to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and we must all take part in our different homes.

We commit you and all yours under the shelter of the wings of our Almighty God, who is able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before His seat of Glory with exceeding joy in Jesus’ name!”