Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter on Thursday held a crucial meeting with stakeholders on the guidelines issued by on Tuesday and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federal and Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha.
CAN leaders and other stakeholders at the meeting faulted one of the guidelines that says: “each service shall be for a maximum of 1 hour with an interval of 30 mins in between services to allow time for disinfection”.
The religious leaders suggested that the PTF should review the timing, adding that it won’t be enough for worship.
A source at the meeting also told our correspondent that the advisory on the people who are 55 years and above was deliberated upon.
Speaking further the source said: “It was a serious meeting where all stakeholders contributed and raised vital questions on the PTF guidelines. They ask for the review of the timing for worship. They were of the pinion that the 1 hour will not be enough for worship.
“On the advisory that people who are 55 years and above should avoid worship centers, they also suggested that government should have said people who are 55 years and above that feels that they are not feeling fine should not attend worship.
“Apart from this, I think they agreed with the rest of the guidelines”.
CAN’s General Secretary, Joseph Daramola who confirmed the development told The Nation that the PTF needs to review the timing for worship centers.
Daramola said the 1 hour timing would not be enough for services, adding that it should be extended to 90 minutes.
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He urged Christians to adhere to the guidelines, and ensure safety at all time.
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has also released guidelines on reopening of places of worship in Abuja.
The guidelines was released after he chaired a meeting of the FCT Administration and leadership of the FCT Christian Association of Nigeria and League of FCT Imams Initiative to review the guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 particularly as they concern places of worship.
While reviewing the guidelines, the meeting received briefings from the FCT COVID-19 Emergency Response Team on the situation of the pandemic in the FCT.
The report of the Committee set up by the Honourable Minister on May 19 2020, to draw up protocols to be adopted for possible re-opening of places of worship, was equally received at the meeting.
After extensive deliberations, the meeting agreed to adopt the guidelines as released by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 with regards to the re-opening of places of worship in the FCT under the second phase of the ease of lockdown for the next four weeks.
According to the statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, the minister expressed appreciation of the FCT Administration to the religious leaders for their cooperation and commitment towards a safe re-opening of places of worship in the Territory.
He also urged residents to use the opportunity provided by the re-opening of Churches and Mosques to pray fervently for the early end to the Covid -19 pandemic.
The religious leaders expressed their appreciation to the FCT Administration for always consulting and taking into consideration the opinions of the religious organisations on important societal issues like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following this consensus, between the FCT Administration and the religious leaders, the protocols guiding the re-opening of places of worship, Bello said all places of worship must sign up to full compliance with all aspects of non- pharmaceutical interventions required to protect the public from COVID-19, including but not limited to: “Ensuring the supply of running water and soap/alcohol sanitisers at entry and exit points and in all high-contact locations including bathrooms; Worshippers must sanitize their hands before entry; Provision of temperature checks before entry; Mandatory use of face masks;
“Strongly discourage all close contact including shaking hands, hugging, kissing, handing out of materials and sharing of worship implements including prayer mats, musical organs, microphones etc;
“Churches and mosques within the FCT must limit the capacity of their facilities to allow for physical distancing of at least 2 meters between persons.
“Limit congregational contact times, with places of worship only opening for regular church and mosque services; Churches are to open from 5am and close by 8pm and each service shall be for a maximum of 1 hour with an interval of 30 mins in between services to allow time for disinfection;
“Mosques are to open 15 mins before Adhan and close 10 mins after prayers for the five prayers. Waiting period between Adhan and Iqamah should not be more than 10 minutes. Prayers are to be shortened to reduce duration of contact between congregations”.
The meeting, the statement said also acknowledged that the situation of COVID-19 in the FCT is still at a very critical stage and recognizes that there is the danger that if the established protocols are not adhered to, the cases of those infected and fatalities will increase.
The minister said: “It is therefore essential that all residents of the FCT take personal responsibility in ensuring strict compliance”.
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