COVID-19: Ogun may lift restrictions on religious activities June 19

Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

Religious activities and gatherings may resume across Ogun State on June 19th, according to Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The governor made this known on Friday at a press briefing on the COVID-19 status of the state, held at his office in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

Governor Abiodun, who said that a subcommittee on COVID-19 on the reopening of religious centres has been set up, suggested that the ban on religious activities may be lifted on June 19th.

The subcommittee consists of the leadership of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the League of Imams and Alfas in the state.

According to him, the subcommittee will review the submissions, the discussions as well as expert opinions of medical scientists to harmonise all the views to arrive at a composite framework for final adoption of the committee on or before Friday, June 12th.

Abiodun said ‘a subcommittee, inclusive of the religious leaders, will review the submissions, the discussions as well as expert opinions of medical scientists to harmonise all the views to arrive at a composite framework for final adoption of the committee in the next few days, on or before Friday, 12th June 2020.

‘The 12th June deadline for the completion of the guidelines, which will be unveiled to the public in my next address is to enable the gradual opening of religious activities to tentatively commence on Friday, 19th, June 2020, subject to the review of preparedness by our churches and mosques to the new normal.

‘A task force comprising of the religious leaders, government and security agencies will be established to monitor and ensure compliance with the agreed guidelines for religious activities; any place of worship that violates the guidelines will be closed.

‘The guidelines will be reviewed at regular intervals, based on developments, including expert opinions and data from the field.’

While declaring that his administration will continue the engagement, as well as intensify enlightenment and education of the public on the various guidelines to combat the pandemic in the state, the governor restated that all the existing guidelines to combat COVID-19 in the state remain in place.