As the Federal Government, through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, announced a partial easing of the lockdown introduced to combat the virus, Daily Trust on Sunday visited some states to see how they are complying with directives, and now reports.
Hotels, banks and worship centres in Akwa Ibom State are making efforts to comply with the COVID-19 guidelines under the second phase of easing the lockdown imposed to contain the virus. The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state met and came up with modalities for the resumption of church services.
Already, leadership of some churches met to discuss how to comply with government’s directives, with the plan to resume services on Sunday.
At the headquarters of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Akwa Ibom Province 7 in Uyo, it was gathered that the minister-in-charge, Pastor Israel Agbolamagbin, met with other spiritual leaders and heads of departments to strategise on how to resume church services on Sunday, June 7. He directed that the church premises be fumigated before resumption of service.
Also, the vice president-general, National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki, said the special adviser on religious matters had directed that they use the CAN guidelines for prayers in mosques.
He said although the reopening of mosques was not mentioned in government’s announcement, they are also places of worship. Sadauki added that he had urged Muslims in the state to be patient and wait till after Sunday, June 7, before resuming prayers in various mosques.
“I am appealing to my people to be law-abiding and patient,’’ he said.
In Osun State, religious activities are picking up as government lifted the ban on such gatherings. While commending the government for reopening mosques and churches, an Islamic cleric, Malam Idris Olohunlomerue, however, said the 20 minutes approved for juma’t prayers were too short.
“We have to be realistic, 20 minutes are not sufficient for jumat prayers,’’ he said..
Also, following government’s directive, banks have increased their working hours and rate of operation in the state.
In some of the banks our correspondent visited, only customers with facemasks were allowed to enter. Water and soap were also provided at various entrances for customers to wash their hands before going in. Canopies and chairs were provided outside for customers as only few people were allowed inside banking halls. Those who wanted to use the ATM were also monitored to comply with social distancing rules.
The banks have also extended their closing hours from 2pm to 4pm in compliance with the directive of the Presidential Task Force.
Our correspondent who visited some banks within Kaduna metropolis observed that social distancing was maintained within banks premises as stipulated by NCDC guidelines. Customers were not allowed into the banks premises or to even use the ATM without washing their hands or using sanitisers.
At Access Bank, along Ahmadu Bello Way, canopies and plastic chairs were provided for customers to sit as they waited their turns to go into the banking hall.
Social distancing was also observed by customers based on sitting arrangements. At the same time, a staff was stationed at the gate to ensure that all customers washed their hands with soap before using the ATM.
The same procedure was followed at Union Bank, along Yakubu Gowon Way, where customers must put on facemasks before they were allowed to use the ATM, while also subjected to temperature checks.
Also, at the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), along Nnamdi Azikwe express bypass, despite the crowd, guards ensured that only few customers were allowed into the hall.
But hotels are yet to recover as many of those visited were still without guests.
One of the hoteliers, Martins Eruola said, “Until interstate travel returns fully, hotel business will not be able to come back to life. Also, as weekend parties and social gatherings have not been permitted, there is no way hotels can make money. How many people would just go to hotels unless they are away from their bases?’’
In Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu held a virtual meeting with religious leaders over plans to reopen worship centres. During the meeting, the governor listed fresh guidelines and conditions to be met before mosques and churches would reopen. He said worship centres in the state were expected to reopen on June 19 and 21 respectively.
Notable religious leaders who participated in the virtual meeting are Pastor W.F. Kumuyi (Deeper Life); Pastor Joseph Obayemi (RCCG); Dr. D.K. Olukoya (MFM); Dr. Abdulrahman Ahmad (chief missioner, Ansaru-deen); Sheik Abdulhakeem Lawal; Imam Abdul Akeem Lawal, among others.
Governor Sanwo-Olu further directed, “All religious centres (churches and mosques) must be 40 per cent of the venue’s capacity. No hugging, handshakes, serving of food, example the Holy Communion etc, in any religious centre.
“Children below 15 are not allowed. Religious gatherings are restricted to Fridays and Sundays only.”
Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, the state chairman of the CAN, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola said, “We will come out with the position of churches on the conditions. If there’s anything we want amended or reviewed, we will soon make it known.”
The co-chairman of the State Inter-religious Council, Imam Shuaib Abdullahi, also said the conditions listed by government aligned with the recommendations of the Muslim community.
He said any mosque that would not provide running water with soap for hand washing, as well as sanitisers or temperature scanner should remain closed.
According to him, the Muslim community also recommended that, to reduce crowd, mosques could have different sets of juma’at prayers, as well as limit the number of entry and exit points.
“Most of our juma’at mosques have congregations running into hundreds of worshippers, so we said they could reduce the congregation to 100 and have three or four sets of services. People who are vulnerable and minors should not be allowed inside the mosques.
“We are keying into all the protocols issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and we ask every Muslim and mosque to take responsibility,’’ he said.
In Kaduna State, government has not given directives on how to reopen religious centres and hotels, insisting that they would remain closed till further notice.
Recently, the Nasarawa State Government lifted ban on religious centres for a period of two weeks. To this end, the Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture Comrade Dogo Shammah gave conditions thus: “Imams and other clergies have been mandated to ensure strict compliance to regulations put in place. Specifically, they are to ensure social distancing, use of facemasks and frequent washing of hands with sanitisers by worshippers.’’
He said the situation would be reviewed at the end of the two weeks.
At the secretariat mosque, along Jos road, Lafia, it was observed that worshippers adhered to guidelines, as physical distancing was observed. Worshippers were also compelled to use facemasks and sanitisers.
It was also observed that the number of worshippers were reduced in both mosques and churches.
Also, most of the hotels visited said they had been observing strict compliance to guidelines to avoid the wrath of the state government and possible stigma from the public.
In Rivers State, it was observed that most banks, hotels and worship centres were yet to fully comply with government directives.
In some banks visited by our correspondent in Port Harcourt and Oyigbo, washing of hands and use of sanitisers, temperature checks were observed, but many of them did not enforce physical distancing and the use of facemasks by customers.
However, in Eco Bank at the Mbano Camp junction of Oyigbo, customers without facemasks were not allowed into the premises. Customers’ temperatures were checked, just as they were made to use hand sanitisers.
Also, at Union Bank, Zenith Bank and the FCMB, customers were forced to wear facemasks before getting into the banking halls. Temperatures were checked and hand sanitisers applied, but physical distancing was not observed.
Many churches in the state still adhere to the state government’s directive of not having more than 50 persons during service, washing hands and putting on facemasks.
In Global Reconciliation Church, Oyigbo, one of the worshippers who did not want her name mentioned, said, “We obey all government’s directives as it concerns COVID-19. We make sure our members wash their hands and put on facemasks before entering the church. We have segmented our service into three sessions to achieve the 50 persons per session rule.’’
Furthermore, some of the big hotels visited observed health protocols as customers’ temperatures were checked, just as they were made to use sanitisers before entering into the premises.
Again, activities in the tourism sector are still very skeletal as it depends largely on interstate travels and airline operations to thrive.
A manager at a three-star hotel, who preferred anonymity said, “We don’t expect people who are forced to stay in their houses to come and stay in the hotel. Other outlets like clubs, restaurants, bars and halls for social events are completely grounded. So, as far as we are concerned, the status quo remains.’’
