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By Raymond Osho
ABEOKUTA – Ogun State government on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 announced the reopening of worship centres, effective from August 14, 2020.
The State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun made the announcement in a Press conference at his Oke-Mosan office in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The governor stressed that all the religious centres across the state must strictly adhere to the laid down guidelines in order to discourage further spread of Covid-19.
Stating the guidelines, Abiodun stressed that all congregants must wear their face masks appropriately, there must be adequate provision of running water, worship centres should be adequately cleaned and disinfected before and after services, there should be adequate provision and supervision of multiple Veronica Buckets for handwashing.
He added that there should be provision of alcohol-based sanitiser which must be used before and after service and worship centres should provide adequate toilet facilities with water.
Abiodun who advised all Muslim faithful to perform ablution at home and go to Mosque with their personal praying mats, threatened to impose severe sanctions on any Worship Centre that fails to comply with the laid down guidelines.
The governor stressed “let me state very clearly that our Administration will remain resolute in its commitment and will not be distracted towards improving on the wellbeing, welfare and wellness of the people of Ogun State. Some have argued that we should have opened the worship centres immediately we opened markets. ”
His words, “I have to state that there is a huge world of difference between our market places and our worship centres, especially in this part of the world. Markets, in Yoruba land, are usually open places with shops; people move around and will hardly be at a place for more than a few minutes at any time.
“On the other hand, religious centres are enclosures; people are at a place for longer period of time; and, a lot of chanting and ecstatic expressions happen. In addition, a deep look into the population of our worship centres reveals that most of our worshippers are the elderly. They are medically and physically more vulnerable”.
“We have continued to engage the leaderships of the two religious bodies, as represented by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the League of Imams and Alfas on the modalities for the reopening of the religious houses. And, we thank them for their understanding, support and solidarity. In fact, the committee on the consideration of reopening of worship centres has been enlarged to include the Honourable Commissioners for Health; Environment; and, Physical Planning.”
He equally urged religious leaders to ensure that they abide by the measures mutually agreed upon and rolled out.
Governor Abiodun hinted that the decision to reopen worship centres was finalised after collaborative and inclusive meeting with the religious institutional representatives and made available on Monday, July 27, 2020.
Speaking on the Eid-il-Kabir celebrations, Abiodun stated that the celebration in the State would follow the same pattern as it was in Eid-il-Fitri at the conclusion of Ramadan Fast, this, Abiodun said was in line with the resolution of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
