Barring any unforeseen circumstance, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, may reopen religious and worship centres across the state this weekend.
Sources closed to the governor said, the Abiodun administration has weighed all the options and come to terms that worship centres could not be lockdown forever.
The opinion in government circle in Ogun State was that the Gateway State may have reached its peak and that people could not be locked down forever in the name of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Yes, we are considering various options. We are looking at lifting the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) lockdown.
“We are even proposing to reopen religious and worship centres across the state this weekend under strict COVID-19 safety protocols.
“The governor’s concern is the safety of the good people of Ogun State. But with various measures already put in place, I think Ogun State can reopen without any cause for alarm,” said a source at Ogun State Government.
Abiodun had on June 14 rescinded the decision to reopen the worship centres in Ogun State on June 19, citing the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state.
He had said: “Within 14 days, precisely as at Monday, 15th June 2020, we had recorded a total of 586 COVID-19, marking over 85 per cent increase in the 316 cases as at 4th June, an increase of 270 or over 85 per cent in just 14 days. Even as we have thankfully discharged a total of 315 patients, we have sadly recorded 15 related deaths.
“This brings the unfortunate reality of this growingly serious situation, which has inevitably influenced my announcement in my last related press briefing regarding the reopening of religious centres today, 19th June.
“We, as a government charged with the first responsibility of protecting her people, will not be reopening our churches and mosques. This follows intense deliberations with religious leaders, who were rationally in agreement with us.
“In addition, the extant guiding regulations remain in place, as regards the wearing of facemasks, interstate travel ban, intermittent lockdown, work, and public transport. Compliance with these measures will continue to be monitored by the Task Force we set up for this purpose.
“I thank all our frontline workers, supporting personnel and private organisations for their sacrifice.
“Together, we will defeat this pandemic. Please, stay safe.”