The Lagos State Government has retracted on its decision to reopen churches and mosques in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Tuesday, in a press briefing in Lagos.
The governor on Thursday, June 4 had ordered that churches reopen from June 21 while mosques to reopen on June 19.
The governor’s new decision is based on recent statistics from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, which says Lagos has recorded 7,319 confirmed cases of COVID-19, out of which 1,137 have healed and have reconnected with their loved ones while 82 fatalities recorded.
In his address, the suspension of the reopening of worship centres is ‘indefinite’.
Sanwo-Olu also said social centres will also remain closed.
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.”
