The Lagos State Government has suspended indefinitely the planned reopening of mosques and churches on Friday, June 19 and Sunday, June 21 respectively.
This was disclosed by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday, June 16, during a press briefing at Alausa Ikeja.
The governor explained that this is as a result of the rising cases of the coronavirus pandemic in the state which has been the epicentre of the virus in the country.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the measure has become necessary so as to prevent the current situation regarding the high level of infection in the state from getting out of hand.
According to the Governor, “As at midnight yesterday, June 15, 2020, Lagos State had recorded a total of 7,319 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of this number, 1,137 have fully recovered and been discharged, while 82 have sadly died, leaving 6,100 active cases under management in the State.’’
“Our dear state, therefore, continues to be the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, with about 44% of the total number of confirmed cases nationwide. Let me again say that the steady increase in a number of confirmed cases is by no means unexpected. Considering that the infection is now very much in our midst, the more we test, the more the number of positive cases that will emerge.’’
Going further, Sanwo-Olu said, “The uplifting news is that, based on the statistics emerging from Lagos State, more than 90% of the people who test positive will go on to fully recover under supervision, and be discharged.’’
“Dear Lagosians, in the most recent guidelines which we issued on the gradual easing of the lockdown, based on the advice of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, I noted that we would shortly be permitting the restricted opening of religious houses, on the condition of strict compliance with detailed guidelines issued by the Lagos State Safety Commission.’’
“We have been closely monitoring the situation since then, and have now concluded that we cannot proceed with any form of re-opening for places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice. “This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, it is simply in line with our ongoing evaluation of evolving scenarios regarding the course of the infection in Lagos State and the corresponding public health advisory guidelines issued by the experts.’’
“We are now hereby suspending, with immediate effect, the plan to re-open religious houses and places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice.’’
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and continue to base our decision-making on data modelling; as well as on the responsibility we have to act in a manner that ensures the protection of all you the people of Lagos State. Therefore, until further notice, all places of worship in Lagos State will remain closed. Social and events centres, and social clubs, will also remain closed, for now.’’
The governor then pointed out that the state is now fully in the phase of personal responsibility, regarding the pandemic where the sensible decisions we take daily can help save us all and defeat the virus.
He said as a government his administration would continue to do everything within its power to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the people, but that could only be effective when the people themselves act responsibly and do not behave in a manner that undermines public health guidelines and puts the society at risk.
He said the state government hopes to balance the competing considerations of life and livelihood.
Dear governor of Lagos state, we the citizens go to the market, we go to work, even the markets are more crowded than the churches and mosques. What do you stand to gain. Corona virus is inefficient in this country and we know it. Show us proof of the dead people, don’t they have families? Do not allow the grace God Almighty is giving you to expire. Allow us to worship our God. No amount of lock down will reduce the numbers that you people are piling up. So for heaven’s sake, let us be.
There are lots of hypocrisy in the policy of the state and the federal government. You lock down the religion institutions as if the coronavirus demons domicile in them. You opened the market and Bank that you can not control the crowd. If you want to lock down, do it better, and stop unnecessary policy that will put people under difficult situation for very long periods. It’s better not to ignite provocation of the masses who might be forced to act irresponsibly.
The doctors should be fearful over the informations of coronavirous they should not allowed the anger of God on them , let the worshippers of God return to their God to Avoid God’s anger.
Oh! How I pity this young governor. Dear Mr. Sanwo Olu probably you haven’t read about those who stood in the way of God’s people in the Bible and tried to restrict them from serving their God.The sad story is that God actually took them out of the way by a sordid death.I pray that that would not be your case. JESUS CHRIST is the true God of Mercy and compassion but He does not delight in wickedness and mischief. To fear God and obey Him above any human God-fathers or any superior personalities is great wisdom. Please act wise dear governor; for the sake of your soul, when you will close your eyes and face God at the other side.
What is the real issue about the place of worship? Did your medical experts say they breed covid-19? Banks are safe, markets are safe and even parks that are overcrowded are safe but the place of worship is not. I think there’s more to this.
Governor sanwo olu I have never liked him personally. You allow people to go to markets, to go and buy tablets in pharmacies but u don’t allow them to go worship centres to praise and pray to God right? You have connived with federal government, health minister and others not to allow people to go to worship centres. You 5G and Antichrist people u will all go to hell fire in Jesus name amen especially minister of health with all those false figures he is given, hell fire is his portion in Jesus name amen. Have you people not finished installing your Antichrist 5G masks. You and the Federal government of Nigeria were given one billion dollars by America to allow installation of Antichrist 5G. You will all rot in hell in Jesus name amen. Useless people! Pls allow my comment to get to them OK?
This is hard to comprehend. How does closure of worship centres help on the fight against Covid-19, while markets, banks, bus park and work places are open and operating to full capacity. These are places with crowd that you can not control.
It is a pity that you allowed yourself to be used against God. Do not stand in the way O God. Pharoah negotiated the liberty of God’s people to serve him, you sure know his end.
Take caution Mr Governor and dare to fear God for once. Your caseay be worse than Ambode who rose against the Chaplain.
No one ever deny God of the service of his people to him and live to tell the story.
All through scriptures, whenever there are plagues in the Land, it takes God’s intervention to stay the plagues.
Let worship centres open to full capacity for one month and see the dramatic victory we will record against corona virus
Is better let us remain like this. God will help us. This one is beyond humanity
Mr Governor, as a citizen of this nation I call for a better explanation for restricting religious activities while other economical activities are not being restricted. This is illogical, markets are running, banks and parks are, as well as offices and companies but yet you felt we are not supposed to worship God.
Any action that will take to reduce the spread of this virus should be taken.anywhere we pray God will answers us.what matters is our pure heart.church or no church,mosque or no mosque,what matters is remain ur faith in Christ or Allah.
Is true bt iron sharpneth iron so let d people go nd worship der God