COVID-19: Ebonyi lifts ban on religious gatherings

 Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki

In a statement in Abakaliki on Friday, Governor David Umahi said the lifting of the ban was in response to the passionate appeal made by the leadership of the Chieftain Association of Nigeria(CAN) Ebonyi state chapter.

The statement which was signed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Uchenna Orji, stated that religious worships and church activities were permitted to hold once a week.

He added that the Church services which must hold only on Sundays should take place between 8am to 11 am, adding that no religious service will be allowed to hold  any other day other than Sundays which he emphasized must be held in strict  observance of  all COVID-19 Laws and regulations.

The  statement reads ” the governor of Ebonyi State,His Excellency Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi FNSE FNATE has directed me to inform the general public that In response to the passionate appeal made by the  Leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ebonyi State Chapter and some of our reverred Bishops that Religious Centres be re-opened for worship under strict observance  of COVID-19 policy and State laws, and having  prayerfully reviewed the request and in consultation with state leaders,  he hereby directs that religious centres in the state do re-open for worship once a week effective from 15th May, 2020 under the following conditions:

“All Churches are to observe their service only on Sunday from 9am to 11 am.

“Seventh Day Adventist and  Muslim faithfuls are to observe their service on Saturday and Friday respectively from 9 am – 11 am.

“No Religious Centre shall permit more than 500 people and worshipers shall observe a minimum of 2 meters social distancing from one another.

“Wearing of facemasks, washing of hands with running water and use of hand sanitizers must be strictly observed in all religious centres.

” No religious service is allowed to hold  any other day other than the days specified herein and which must be in strict  observance of  all COVID-19 Laws and regulations

“Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) has a duty to close down any religious gathering and arrest the principal of the  worship centre that violates this order

“The Governor requests all Religious bodies in the state to use this opportunity of window of worship to create awareness among their members on the protocols, policies, laws and regulations regarding COVID-19 and to pray for our dear State and Nigeria.

“They are also enjoined to use the opportunity to advise their members to aggressively participate in agriculture and other lawful means of livelihood.

“CAN leadership and Anti- COVID-19 Committee on Religious Centres are requested to please mount strict  monitoring of all religious centres in the state and ensure strict compliance and discipline among them”