The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says places of worship in the state will be reopened from August 7.
Sanwo-Olu made this disclosure during a briefing on COVID-19 at the State House in Marina on Saturday, August 1.
While mosques will be reopened next week Friday, the governor said churches will follow suit on Sunday, August 9.
According to him, religious leaders must make available hand sanitisers; thermometer guns, adding that the state government will ensure that social distancing is maintained.
Sanwo-Olu said, “Places of worship in Lagos will now be opened from Friday, the 7th of August for our Muslim worshippers, and on Sunday, the 9th of August for our Christian worshippers.”
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had earlier okayed the reopening of churches and mosques in the country but the Lagos State government had ordered that worship centres remained shut.
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Meanwhile, founder and President of Believers Love World, a.k.a Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, on Friday, July 31; criticised the Federal Government for the restriction placed on church services due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The reduction in the number of worshippers and period of services were some of the measures put in place; by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19 as churches reopen.
However, Oyakhilome in one of his regular live broadcasts condemned the government for attempting to regulate churches and determine how long services take.
He said Christians should be allowed to serve God the way they want.
The cleric said that Christians in Nigeria cannot wait for President Muhammadu Buhari or anyone else’s instruction to serve their God.
“I am appalled that some people have the audacity to tell us how many hours we can spend in church. How dare you?” he said.
“What in the world do you think you are? Your time is short. You cannot tell God’s people how long they can spend in church,” he added.
Oyakhilome went on to say that the President can only stop Christians from entering their worship centres; only if he erected the building for them.
“But if you didn’t, you have no right to tell God’s people you’re going to spend one hour or two hours in church.
“I tell you, the number of hours you tell them they have in the church is the number of hours you have left,” he warned.
