COVID-19: Churches And Mosques To Reopen As Nigerian Government Lifts Ban On Religious Gatherings

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the lifting of the ban on religious gatherings across the country.

This was made known by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, during the daily briefing of the panel on Monday, June 1, 2020.

According to him, Churches and mosques are now allowed to open their doors for worship in accordance with guidelines or protocols handed by state governments.

Mustapha said the PTF submitted its recommendations and the President approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June 2020, subject to review-:

• Nationwide curfew remains in place, timing now 10pm—4am. (No longer 8pm to 6am).
• Full opening of financial sector. That is, banks and the likes will now open all through normal working hours.
• There is a ban on gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace.
• Relaxation of restriction on places of worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments.
• Managed access to markets and locations of economic activity to limit the risk of transmission;
• Ban on inter-state travels except for the movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods, and essential services;
• Mandatory use of non-medical face masks in public places;
• Mandatory provision of handwashing facilities/sanitisers in all public places.
• Schools are still closed. Hotels may reopen.
• Bars, gyms, cinemas, nightclubs, parks remain closed until further evaluation.
• The aviation industry has been requested to start developing protocols for domestic flights to possibly resume from June 21.
• The June 21 date for opening of domestic flights is tentative. Certain conditions have to be fulfilled between now and that date.
• Aircraft have to be good and safe to fly (checks/maintenance) with necessary recertifications + medicals for pilots/crew.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 416 new cases of coronavirus were recorded on Monday, bringing the total number of infection in the country to 10,578.