Hopes that religious centres would soon hold services were dashed yesterday as some states retained the ban imposed by the Federal Government with a view to containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The Federal Government had on Monday eased the restriction on worship centres. But churches and mosques in Lagos State will not reopen due to a disagreement between the state government and religious leaders over protocols and guidelines.
The possibility of reopening has been ruled out, declared Commissioner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi at a press briefing to commemorate the first year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Elegushi said: “Even before the pronouncement by the Federal Government, we have been having meetings with the religious leaders. We even had one with the Safety Commission, looking at the possibility of reopening of religious houses.
“We also had one with the leaders of the two faiths. I want to tell you categorically that at that meeting, the possibility of reopening religious houses was ruled out totally. They claimed they could not take the responsibility of ensuring that only 20 or 50 people are praying behind them.
“Like an Imam said, he doesn’t know what goes on at his back immediately he is leading a prayer. He said if more than 20 or 50 people were staying at his back, he was not going to take responsibility for their presence.
“So, at the meeting, we ruled out in totality the issue of reopening the religious houses until we have a clear coast for us to do so. The Federal Government mentioned it, but it never ruled out the state in achieving that pronouncement. So, all states will have to look at the possibility of doing so in their respective states.”
Similarly, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji AbdulRazaq, disclosed yesterday that the state had not lifted the ban on religious activities.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin, AbdulRazaq said although the Federal Government lifted the ban on religious activities in the country, it nevertheless left state authorities with the discretion to implement it.
The state government would meet with stakeholders to deliberate on the best modalities for protecting the people of the state, he added.This was as the chief press secretary to the governor and spokesman for technical committee on COVID-19, Rafiu Ajakaye, disclosed: “The state now has a total of 111 confirmed cases, out of which 73 are active, 37 have recovered and have been discharged, with one death.”
The Osun State government also announced that it would meet with religious leaders in the state to evolve modalities for the reopening of worship centres.“While we appreciate the patience of the citizens of the state so far, we are using this medium to urge citizens and residents not to be too anxious to assert the liberties contained in the new guidelines, so that we do not lose the gains that we have made over the last few weeks,” said Commissioner for Information Funke Egbemode in a statement yesterday.
Source: Guardian Newspaper
