COVID 19: Lagos Commissioner commends religious leaders for their cooperation

…Pleads for more support ahead of re-opening

The Lagos State Government has commended religious leaders in the state for their cooperation and involvement in the ongoing fight against Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the cooperation received from the leaders of the two major religious groups, especially in the area of zero-congregational gathering, assisted in lowering the curve of the pandemic.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, gave the commendation on Tuesday at a Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the first year in office of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu held at JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja.

Speaking on plans to reopen the economy of the state including worship centres, Elegushi pleaded for continued collaboration with the state government and adherence to government’s directives that would still be presented to the various churches and mosques when they are eventually allowed to gather for their services.

He recalled that the various leaders of the two religious bodies held several meetings since the index case of the pandemic was recorded to agree on strategies to adopt in churches and mosques in order to guarantee the safety of their members.

He said, “When we got a hint on the current Corona Virus Disease pandemic, we immediately went into action by organising a sensitisation and briefing workshop on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 at the Chapel of Christ The Light Hall, Alausa. This was followed by another meeting where a joint decision was reached by all religious bodies to reduce the attendance of worshippers to 50 worshipers at a time.

“In addition to this, our Religious Leaders came together again on 18th March, 2020 after reviewing the situation to agree on a total lockdown of Religious Worship Centres across the State before President Muhammad Buhari came up with an announcement locking down Lagos, Ogun and Abuja.”

According to the Commissioner, the timely intervention of the churches and mosques during the period to shut down all religious gathering, activities and programmes helped the containment of the virus from escalating beyond control considering the huge numbers that do gather periodically for religious purposes.

While acknowledging the discomfort which the pandemic brought on both the Muslims and Christians across the state specifically during the Lenten season and the Ramadan period, the Commissioner commended the religious leaders under the umbrella of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC for their altruism and for prioritising the wellbeing of their members.

He said, “For a very long time in human history, Christians celebrated the Lenten period and Easter celebrations at home while our Muslim brothers and sisters were also restricted to observe Sallat at home throughout the Ramadan period including the Eid Mubarak celebrations.”

Elegushi attributed the mutual understanding that exists between the state government and the religious groups to a long-term religious harmony and peaceful coexistence, which he said are part of the critical functions of the Ministry.

He also acknowledged the cordial relationship between the believers in the two religious groups, saying that what has turned out to be source of acrimony and disunity in some parts of the country is what makes Lagos State stronger.

“We pride ourselves in saying that what divides and creates security breach in other parts of the country is what unites us in Lagos State bearing in mind that Lagos State has become a home to people from across Nigeria and beyond,” the Commissioner restated.