The joy of Lagos residents to resume religious activities has been cut short as the state government on Tuesday said that churches and mosques in the state might not be reopened soon for worshippers.
This is coming about 24 hours after the Federal Government lifted the ban it placed on religious gatherings.
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Speaking on the sideline of the 2020 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the first year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, disclosed the desire of the state government as it bids to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Elegushi said the reopening of the worship centres was not possible soon as the state was the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said:
Even before the pronouncement by Federal Government, we have been having meetings with the religious leaders.
We even had one with Lagos State Safety Commission, looking at the possibility of reopening of religious houses.
We also had one with the leaders of the two faiths.
And I want to tell you categorically that at that meeting, possibility of reopening religious houses was ruled out totally.
They claimed that they cannot take such responsibility of ensuring that only 20 or 50 people are praying behind them.
Like an Imam said, he doesn’t know what is going on at the back immediately he is leading a prayer.
He said if more than 20 or 50 people are staying at his back, he is not going to take responsibility for their presence.
So, in the meeting, we ruled out in totality the issue of reopening the religious houses until we have a clear coast for us to do so.
The Federal Government mentioned it, but it never ruled out the state in achieving that pronouncement.
So all states will have to look at the possibility of doing so in their respective states.
We all know Lagos is still having more figures.
So definitely that will speak to our decision.
The FG had said on Monday that the decision fully reopening worship centres rests on the shoulder of respective state government.
