Gilbert Ekezie
From Left: Chancellor, Diocese of Lagos, Anglican Communion, Hon.(Mrs) Justice Adebayo Oyebanji, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, The Diocesan and Missioner, Bishop of  Diocese of Lagos, The Rt. Rev Dr Humphrey Olumakaiye, Deputy Chancellor, Mr. Olumide Sofowora and Assistant, Synod Secretary, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye at the 2nd session of the 34th synod of the Diocese of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in Lagos on Monda
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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has said that the COVID-19 curve has started to flatten in the state.
He said this at the official opening ceremony of the second session the 34th Synod of the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) held at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu said it was envisaged that Lagos State would be picking dead bodies on the streets, and expressed gratitude to God who kept everyone safe from the pandemic. “We have less than two per cent fatality, when the statistics said that it will be 10 to 15 per cent. We had estimated that by August, the curve would have flat out – meaning that the positivity rate would have flattened, and we will begin to see a downward trend. I am happy to inform the people of God that the curve is coming down, and we are beginning to see a low number in the positivity of the COVID-19 in the state.”
He said though Lagos State residents are not out of the woods yet, so they need to take precautions, even as the numbers are coming down. “Lagos, the epicentre, indeed has risen up to it and we are beginning to see the numbers coming down on a daily basis.”
Sanwo-Olu who sympathized with those who lost their loved ones prayed that God will spare lives of everyone. “As a government, we will continue our best to save lives. We also urged the church to pray for the state government. We acknowledge our limitations as human beings, so we need the Supreme, who knows all and is in-charge of all circumstances. As a government, we are indeed lucky because the church stood behind us, understood what the challenges were and you worked with us.”
The Governor referred to the story of Daniel in the Bible, who survived in the Lion’s den through prayers, pointing out that COVID-19 has shown in reality that prayers are needed always. “We need to pray, we need to serve, whatever we find ourselves doing, let us do it well with the best intentions, because we do not know who is watching.”
He stated that to build a “Greater Lagos, everyone certainly needs to hold on to God, to continue to pray and use God as an instrument for contact for all.
President of the Synod and Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye said the gathering was for all to register an unreserved appreciation and gratitude to God almighty , for seeing everyone through the devastating season of global outbreak of an infectious pandemic disease (COVID-19), which befell the world, not too long after the new year began.
He said it is unfortunate that till this moment, there are yet no specific vaccines or absolute treatments, even though there are many ongoing clinical trials with evaluating potentials.
Olumakaiye who commended Sanwo-Olu for his good foot prints in the state , especially at the COVID-19 period, thanked God for using him to bless the Anglican Church and the entire Lagos residents. “The governor has approved the construction of roads leading to our Centenary City at Ibeju Lekki. We recognize with immense sense of pride and fulfillment , your impressive commitments to the achievement of a greater Lagos of our dream, and we can see that being actualized through the giant strides you are making in virtually every sector of the state’s developmental corridors, especially as encapsulated in your well-conceived , highly-impactful and far-reaching social transformational agenda, tagged; Project T.H.E.M.E.S.
The cleric assured the governor of moral and prayerful support as a church.