COVID-19: Ekiti State Suspends Plan To Reopen Churches, Mosques

The Ekiti State Government has suspended its plan of reopening religious centres scheduled for July 17.

Recall that Governor Kayode Fayemi had on July 1, announced the reopening of mosques and churches, which had been shut since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

They were asked to open once a week on Friday for Muslims from July 17 and on Sunday for Christians from July 19.

Explaining the reason behind the suspension, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, in a statement on Friday, noted that the suspension of the reopening was consequent upon review of the preparedness of religious bodies to comply with stipulated conditions and guidelines put in place to ensure safety of its citizen.

The statement reads: “The latest communique of CAN is indicative of the fact that worship centres are not yet ready to comply with conditions stipulated as guidelines and conditions set out by the government for reopening of worship centres.

“In view of the foregoing, the State Government has shifted the date for the reopening of worship centres on August 14, 2020 to give the worship centres enough time to meet the prescribed conditions for the reopening.”

The Commissioner said though fumigation of religious centres remains a prerequisite for reopening, it should not be done in contravention of the Ekiti State Environmental Health and Sanitation Law.

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Commenting on vulnerable members of the public, she stated that those within ages of 1 -12 and 65 and above are also exempted from attending any congregational programme in any religious centre.

Yaya-Kolade, however, added that “The churches are permitted to hold their programmes once in a week and should last for just two hours”.