Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked Lagos, Ogun and other
state governments where churches are still closed to relax the covid-19
restriction to allow reopening of places of worship.
The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev
Dr Samson ‘Supo Ayokunle, said the continued lockdown order on the
places of worship was no longer acceptable or reasonably justified.
In statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Assistant, (Media and
Communications) to the CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the
association said that the continued closure of the worship centres is
against the new relaxed lockdown protocol given by the Presidential Task
Force on COVID-19.
“Despite the directive given by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19
with regards to the re-opening of places of worship nationwide, some
states like Lagos and Ogun are yet to allow worship places, especially
churches, to be reopened. What sin have the places of worship committed?
“With the sudden emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, the leadership
of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at all levels, agreed with
the government on the need to close down the places of worship,
economy, schools and every other facet of life,” he said.
CAN said, “With the reopening of the economy, especially the markets
(both organized and the unorganised markets) along with the plan to
reopen airports and schools, the closure of churches anywhere in the
country is no longer tenable and acceptable.
” In what way are the open and road side markets more organized than the
church which warranted their opening? Is it not our members in the
places of worship that do go to markets and other sectors opened? Why
are they allowed to go to markets and disallowed from going to places of
worship? Is it because the marketers cannot contact the virus in the
markets and airports?”
CAN said that while the government and other relevant stakeholders are
working hard to get cure for the COVID-19 pandemic, the Church too has a
role to play by seeking for divine solutions as well.
