The planned reopening of churches and mosques in Lagos state has been cancelled by the state government.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Tuesday at a televised press briefing.
The governor had on Thursday, June 4 asked mosques to reopen from June 19, adding that churches can begin services from June 21.
The governor explained that the reopening was cancelled because of the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the state.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Lagos has recorded no fewer than 7,319 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of these, 1,137 are considered recovered while 82 are dead.
While making the announcement, the governor said the suspension of the reopening of worship centres is “indefinite”.
The governor also said social and events centers, and social clubs, will also remain closed in the state.
He said, “As at midnight yesterday, June 15, 2020, Lagos State had recorded a total of 7,319 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of this number, 1,137 have fully recovered and been discharged, while 82 have sadly died, leaving 6,100 active cases under management in the State.
“Our dear state, therefore, continues to be the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, with about 44 per cent of the total number of confirmed cases nationwide.
“Dear Lagosians, in the most recent guidelines which we issued on the gradual easing of the lockdown, based on the advice of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, I noted that we would shortly be permitting the restricted opening of religious houses, on the condition of strict compliance with detailed guidelines issued by the Lagos State Safety Commission.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation since then, and have now concluded that we cannot proceed with any form of re-opening for places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice.
“This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, it is simply in line with our ongoing evaluation of evolving scenarios regarding the course of the infection in Lagos State and the corresponding public health advisory guidelines issued by the experts.
“So, let me say this again: we are now hereby suspending, with immediate effect, the plan to re-open religious houses and places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice.
“Therefore, until further notice, all places of worship in Lagos State will remain closed. Social and events centers, and social clubs, will also remain closed, for now.”
