Lagos State Explains Why Churches and Mosques Will Remain Closed

On Monday, June 1st, 2020, the Federal Government in an attempt to further ease the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of COVID’19 across the 36 states in the country lifted the ban in the country. The Lagos State Government has however announced that the state won’t be opening churches and mosques till the coast is clear.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi while addressing pressmen at the Ministerial briefing to commemorate the first year of the Sanwo-Olu Government said Lagos is the epicenter of the pandemic and will not be reopening churches and mosques until there’s a clear coast to do so.

Lagos state has accounts for 5277 cases out of the 10,819 total cases recorded in the country. Elegushi further stated that even before the Federal Government ordered the reopening of churches and mosques, they have been deliberating with religious leaders on the way forward.

He narrated that while discussing on sticking to the guidelines of reopening worship places, an Imam mentioned he won’t be responsible if more people join prayers after it has started and exceed the expected numbers for religious gatherings.

He further explained that the decision of keeping churches and mosques closed was reached together with religious leaders. He commended religious leaders for their cooperation since the inception of the closure. He said the numbers are still rising but churches and mosques will be reopened when it’s appropriate to do so.