Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has on Friday declared the suspension of reopening of mosques and churches in the State.
Fayemi had already slated the reopening of religious centres for today, Friday, July 17.
Recall that on July 1, Fayemi asked mosques and churches, which had been shut since March, to reopen for worship activities on July 17.
They were asked to open once a week on Friday for Muslims from July 17 and on Sunday for Christians from July 19.
However, in a statement on Friday, Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, said the suspension of the reopening was consequent upon review of the preparedness of religious bodies to comply with stipulated conditions.
The statement reads: “The latest communique of CAN is indicative of the fact that worship centres are not yet ready to comply with conditions stipulated as guidelines and conditions set out by the government for reopening of worship centres.
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“In view of the foregoing, the State Government has shifted the date for the reopening of worship centres on August 14, 2020, to give the worship centres enough time to meet the prescribed conditions for the reopening.”
The Commissioner said though fumigation of religious centres remains a prerequisite for reopening, it should not be done in contravention of the Ekiti State Environmental Health and Sanitation Law.
She stated that those within the ages of 1 -12 and 65 and above are also exempted from attending any congregational programme in any religious centre because of their vulnerability.
Yaya-Kolade stated: “The churches are permitted to hold their programmes once in a week and should last for just two hours”
