Lockdown: Kwara churches resume worship activities

By Mumini AbdulKareem and Mike Adeyemi

Many of the churches that opened for Sunday services in Kwara state adhered strictly to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) safety protocols on COVID-19 on Sunday.

The Churches, especially those in Ilorin complied with social distancing, use of an infrared thermometer, use of facemasks, provision of wash hands basins and water taps; hand sanitizers and enough ventilation, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Implementation Compliance Committee/Taskforce said.

The State Government had last week announced the opening of worship centers contingent on compliance with NCDC protocols.

The committee added that it received 98 per cent cooperation “of all churches and their leaders.”

Compliance Committee chairman, Shina Ibiyemi in his report said: “We met most of the clergymen sensitising their congregations about COVID 19 and precautionary measures to take.

“Some of the churches visited did not open so as to plan and arrange for full compliance.

“The committee members were greatly impressed by the performance and compliance of all the churches visited.”

Ibiyemi, a legal practitioner, said some churches did not open for service as they were yet to adequately sensitise their members on safety measures.

One of our reporters who monitored some churches observed that Unity Baptist Church along Unity Road, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin and Holy Ghost Miracle Church Int’l, Unity Road, Ilorin where not opened for worship.

However, Christ Apostolic Church, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, The Church Of the Lord and Potters Porch Int”l along Unity Road complied with the reopening procedures.

Meanwhile virtually all the mosques in Ilorin, Kwara state capital remained under lock on Friday as they were not opened for worship in strict adherence to the directive of Council of Ulamas until the guidelines were reviewed by the government.

In its resolutions issued shortly after the council meeting held on Thursday, the Secretary of Council of Ulama, Justice Salihu Olohuntoyin Mohammed (rtd) said, “The conditions released by the state government are very difficult to adhere to based on our peculiarities.”

According to him, “Majority of stakeholders are about the age limit of 65 years listed for non-participation in prayers/jumat service. In Islamic parlance, Imams are the leaders of congregations and majority of them are within the age bracket of 65 and above.

“We also observed that each of the conditions listed by the government cannot be implemented due to the fact they are very difficult to be enforce strictly. We urge the government to allow Jumat mosques to remain closed in the interim and ensure review of the guidelines.”

The group therefore maintained that the actions are taken in line with the safety protocols of the federal government/Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) and advised worshipers to remain law abiding.