Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, on Friday signed a law prohibiting preaching and public gathering during Ramadan.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Malam Muhammad Bello, said the new law revokes the Sokoto State Infectious Diseases, Immunization, Quarantine and Isolation Regulations 2020.

According to the statement, the new will “henceforth regulate all activities thereto and stipulate punishment and penalties for offenders.

“The law was directed at the suspension of Tafsir, Tarawih and Tuhajjud in congregational forms during the fasting period.

“However the action was taken following the state government’s adoption of the position of the Sultan of Sokoto-led National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), both of which had agreed to suspend such activities”.

Bello explained that the state government has provided an alternative for the Ulama who normally preach at this time to have their sessions recorded via internet and sponsored for airing on radio and television stations across the state.

“Also, in consultation with the state Chief Judge and Chairman of the COVID-19 task force, I wish to use this medium to announce the formal extension of the ban on inter-state movements by another two weeks effective from midnight Friday, April 24, 2020”.

He reiterated that Covid-19 is real, as the first case has been recorded in the state, and appealed to communities sharing borders with Niger Republic and other states to cooperate with security agencies to ensure that nobody enters the state during the period of the ban.