Advertisement

Details of FCT Minister’s meeting with religious leaders over closure of churches, mosques emerge


The Honourable Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has explained why places of worship cannot re-open in Abuja.
Bello in a meeting attended by religious leaders said the FCT is guided by advice from medical experts and guidelines from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 which had directed that all measures approved two weeks earlier be extended for another two weeks.
The meeting was convened by the FCT Christian and Muslim communities led by the FCT Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, Dr. Samson Jonah and the FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr. Tajudeen Mohammed Bello Adigun
The Minister said that based on the guidance of medical experts and consultations with the highest authority, the Presidential Task Force decided that all the measures to check COVID-19 spread, approved two weeks ago be extended for another two weeks to enable organisations, individuals plan for gradual opening.
In a statement issued by the Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, the primary concern of all leaders and public officials is to save lives and that involves monitoring very closely reports from the health authorities.
The statement said that, however, reports from health authorities indicate that after 9 weeks of the pandemic and attempts to curtail its spread not much has changed.
He further explained that all actions on the re-opening of the society are hinged on the advice of medical experts who at the moment do not support it.
“In the light of this, the Minister continued, the leaders of the religious organisations have agreed to work towards the eventual opening up of worship places at a time to be determined by the Presidential Task Force, based on medical advice.
“In the interim, however, Malam Bello explained, that a team consisting of representatives of the religious organisations and their leadership, as well as the FCT authorities have been constituted to gradually look at what the modalities and protocols of operating places of worship will be when COVID-19 lockdown of the FCT is relaxed.
“He said that such modalities were not new considering that certain protocols were put in place at the height of insecurity in the country when religious places were the targets for terrorists.
“Therefore certain protocols such as the use of face masks, compulsory hand washing and social distancing will have to be adhered to when places of worship eventually re-open, the Minister said.
“This, he continued, will also include the identification and placement of modalities for the decontamination of all places of worship adding that these protocols are necessary so that when eventually places of worship are re-opened, they will be done with minimal risks to the worshippers.
Responding, the religious leaders appreciated the efforts of the FCT Administration in the fight against COVID-19.
They lauded the administration for the distribution of palliatives and agreed that whatever palliatives were available following the extension of the lockdown will also be re-distributed through the organs and structures of the religious organisations.
“The meeting was called at the behest of the religious leaders who requested for the re-opening of places of worship in the FCT, following pressure from their followers.”

Post a Comment

0 Comments