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Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has lifted the ban on religious gathering in the state, despite the increase in coronavirus cases in Nigeria.
Akeredolu who gave the order, said the decision was made after consultation with religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders, adding that religious activities in the state will however be guided and syndicated.
He said mosques are to hold only Friday Jum’at services, while churches would hold services on Sundays only. Adding that in spite of the new directive, casualty on account of such gatherings could still be avoided if guided religious worship are carefully managed.
The governor further warned religious leaders and administrators to ensure strict compliance with the social and physical distancing in the places of worship while water and soap must be provided at all entries into the centres or halls of worship.
He stressed that worshippers and workers inside the centres and within the premises must wear face masks and the premises decontaminated before and after the services, as measure to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
“I wish to stress that government has placed appropriate machinery in motion to monitor and ensure that these guidelines are implemented to the letter,” said Akeredolu.
“Cases of infringement, disregard or willful neglect of these extant regulations will be considered as serious threat to the society and will be sanctioned. Let me be more direct. Any church, mosque or worship centre, which fails to obey the simple rule, will be shut down immediately.
The state now has a total of 24 cases out of the 8,733 cases confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
According to the governor, three persons were now on admission and receiving treatment and that 432 persons have been tested for COVID-19.
