The Ogun State Government has suspended the planned reopening of churches and mosques until further notice.
Governor Dapo Abiodun made this announcement on while addressing reporters at the State’s government house in Abeokuta on Friday.
According to the governor, the situation of COVID-19 has not improved in Ogun State and Nigeria, saying the current regime of ease of lockdown should be maintained.
He noted that the government has met with religious leaders in the state – the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the League of Imams and Alfas, adding that they themselves advised that worship centres should remain closed.
Abiodun said: “Consequently, we are confronted with two choices – yield to the demand of those who want the restrictions to be further relaxed or even completely removed, even if this is at variance with the dictates of incontrovertible data analysis and scientific opinion; or tow the path that preserves public health and safety, even if not so popular.
“As a responsible administration, we choose life and the wellbeing of our citizens and are therefore constrained to take the painful but necessary decision to maintain the current regime of eased lockdown in the meantime.
“We are consequently suspending our initially slated reopening of places of worship.”
