COVID-19: CAN Backs Oyo Govt’s Threat To Shut Churches Flouting Protocol

Oyo State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has supported the state government’s decision to close down any church that flouts the COVID-19 prevention protocols.

The State government had in December 2020, before the Christian cross over service, threatened to shut churches that don’t maintain COVID-19 protocol.

In his reaction, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, the CAN Chairman in the state, on Tuesday said that church leaders must continue to advise their congregation to comply with government directives.

“The stand of the government is that any church that defaults will be closed down, and that’s where we are.

“The guidelines are clear, simple and we expect that by now everyone should be used to wearing face masks, washing hands, maintaining social distancing among other measures.

“Christians should ensure they remain alive at all costs, our God is a God of the living and He gave us life free of charge; so if out of disobedience the life is lost, there will be the consequence.

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“Church leaders should continue to admonish their members on the need to appreciate God’s love for giving us life by being obedient,” he said.

The CAN chairman also urged the government to increase the number of COVID-19 tests conducted as much as possible.

He added that there should be statistics of how many people are tested daily and how many found positive, to help to keep people on their toes all the time.

“The fear of the second wave of COVID-19 is the beginning of wisdom, the rate of infection across the country is very alarming.

“The situation is almost beyond what isolation centres can handle, everyone needs to do everything necessary to stay away from getting infected,” he said.