Abeokuta: Sina ODUNTAN
OGUN STATE GOVERNOR, Dapo Abiodun has announced that Churches and Mosques would reopen on June 19 after the religious leaders and the State Task Force have fine-tuned the former's submissions on Friday, June 12.
Dapo Abiodun stated that the government had met the leaderships of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the League of Alfas and Imams in the State and they had submitted their suggestions on how to reopen all religious houses in the State.
The governor said a sub-committee of the task force that was set up would make commendations that would determine the next line of action in reopening of religious centres.
Abiodun, while addressing newsmen at the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Friday, said
the sub-committee which comprises of religious leaders from Christian Association of Nigeria and the Leagues of Imams and Alfas had been given a deadline of June 12 to come up with the guidelines for the reopening of religious centres in the State, saying their recommendations would form the basis to reopen mosques and churches in the State in his next address to the people of the State next week.
The Governor, however, passed a note of warning that the government would close down any religous centre and prosecute its leadership that violate the expected guidelines for reopening of the religious centres in the State.
He maintained that the weekend remain lockdown remains sancrosanct, saying any violator would be visited be the wrath of law.
Prince Abiodun reiterated that hotels, bars, event centres, barbing salons, spas, gardens, recreation centres and other public places except markets would remain closed, adding that gathering above 20 people remains prohibited.
The governor said: “A sub- committee, inclusive of the religious leaders, will review the submissions, the discussions as well as expert opinions of medical scientists to harmonise all the views to arrive at a composite framework for final adoption of the committee in the next few days, on or before Friday, 12th June, 2020.
“The 12th June deadline for the completion of the guidelines, which will be unveiled to the public in my next address is to enable the gradual opening of religious activities to tentatively commence on Friday, 19th June, 2020, subject to the review of preparedness by our churches and mosques to the new norm.
Dapo Abiodun stated that the government had met the leaderships of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the League of Alfas and Imams in the State and they had submitted their suggestions on how to reopen all religious houses in the State.
The governor said a sub-committee of the task force that was set up would make commendations that would determine the next line of action in reopening of religious centres.
Abiodun, while addressing newsmen at the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Friday, said
the sub-committee which comprises of religious leaders from Christian Association of Nigeria and the Leagues of Imams and Alfas had been given a deadline of June 12 to come up with the guidelines for the reopening of religious centres in the State, saying their recommendations would form the basis to reopen mosques and churches in the State in his next address to the people of the State next week.
The Governor, however, passed a note of warning that the government would close down any religous centre and prosecute its leadership that violate the expected guidelines for reopening of the religious centres in the State.
He maintained that the weekend remain lockdown remains sancrosanct, saying any violator would be visited be the wrath of law.
Prince Abiodun reiterated that hotels, bars, event centres, barbing salons, spas, gardens, recreation centres and other public places except markets would remain closed, adding that gathering above 20 people remains prohibited.
The governor said: “A sub- committee, inclusive of the religious leaders, will review the submissions, the discussions as well as expert opinions of medical scientists to harmonise all the views to arrive at a composite framework for final adoption of the committee in the next few days, on or before Friday, 12th June, 2020.
“The 12th June deadline for the completion of the guidelines, which will be unveiled to the public in my next address is to enable the gradual opening of religious activities to tentatively commence on Friday, 19th June, 2020, subject to the review of preparedness by our churches and mosques to the new norm.
“A sub-committee of the State Task Force comprising of the religious leaders, government and security agencies will be established to monitor and ensure compliance with the agreed guidelines for religious activities.
“Any place of worship that violates the guidelines will be closed.
“The guidelines will be reviewed at regular intervals, based on developments, including expert opinions and data from the field.
"In the meantime, Government will continue the engagement, as well as intensify enlightenment and education of the public on the various guidelines to combat the pandemic in the State.
“Let me restate that all the existing guidelines to combat COVID-19 in the State remain in place.
“All 5 working days in the week (Monday to Friday) are still opened for businesses and other economic transactions with only Saturday and Sunday as lockdown days; Observation of dusk-to-dawn curfew as directed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) i.e. between 10.00pm and 4.00am daily” (continues).
“Any place of worship that violates the guidelines will be closed.
“The guidelines will be reviewed at regular intervals, based on developments, including expert opinions and data from the field.
"In the meantime, Government will continue the engagement, as well as intensify enlightenment and education of the public on the various guidelines to combat the pandemic in the State.
“Let me restate that all the existing guidelines to combat COVID-19 in the State remain in place.
“All 5 working days in the week (Monday to Friday) are still opened for businesses and other economic transactions with only Saturday and Sunday as lockdown days; Observation of dusk-to-dawn curfew as directed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) i.e. between 10.00pm and 4.00am daily” (continues).
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