Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Malam Muhammad
Musa Bello has told religious leaders in the territory why worship
houses are still closed, saying it was based on medical advice
regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
He gave this explanation during at a meeting between the FCTA
and representatives of the FCT Christian and Muslim communities led
by the FCT Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, Dr
Samson Jonah and the FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen
Mohammed Bello Adigun.
Bello in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony
Ogunleye noted that the FCT is guided by advice from medical
experts and guidelines from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19
which had directed that all measures approved two weeks earlier be
extended for another two weeks, including the restriction on
religious gatherings.
He said; “based on the guidance of the medical experts and
consultations with highest authority, the Presidential Task Force
gave a decision and communication on the fact that all the measures
approved two weeks ago be extended for another period of time to
enable organisations, individuals and all of us plan for a gradual
opening up of the society”
According to the Minister, the meeting acknowledged that the
primary concern of all leaders and public officials was to save
lives and this involves monitoring very closely reports from the
health authorities which indicate that after 9 weeks of the
pandemic and attempts to curtail its spread not much has
changed”
He further explained that all actions on the re-opening of the
society are hinged on the advice of medical experts who at the
moment do not support it.
“In the light of this”, the Minister continued, “the leaders of
the religious organisations have agreed to work towards the
eventual opening up of worship places at a time to be determined by
the Presidential Task Force, based on medical advice”.
In the interim, however, Malam Bello explained that a team
consisting of representatives of the religious organisations and
their leadership, as well as the FCT has been constituted to
gradually look at what the modalities and protocols of operating
places of worship will be when COVID-19 lockdown of the FCT is
relaxed.
He said such modalities were not new considering that certain
protocols were put in place at the height of insecurity in the
country when religious places were the targets for terrorists.
“Therefore certain protocols such as use of face masks
compulsory hand washing and social distancing will have to be
adhered to when places of worship eventually re-open the Minister
said.
“This, he continued, will also include the identification and
placement of modalities for the decontamination of all places of
worship adding that these protocols are necessary so that when
eventually places of worship are re-opened, they will be done with
minimal risks to the worshippers.
“The religious leaders in their comments appreciated the efforts
of the FCT Administration in the fight against COVID-19 especially
in the distribution of palliatives and the meeting agreed that
whatever palliatives were available following the extension of the
lockdown will also be re-distributed through the organs and
structures of the religious organisations.
“The meeting was called at the behest of the religious leaders
who requested for the re-opening of places of worship in the FCT,
following pressure from their followers.
“Also at the meeting were the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu
Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka
Ohaa, the Acting Secretary of the health and Human Services
Secretariat, Dr Mohammed Kawu and other leaders of the Muslim and
Christian communities in the FCT”, the statement added.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Malam Muhammad
Musa Bello has told religious leaders in the territory why worship
houses are still closed, saying it was based on medical advice
regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
He gave this explanation during at a meeting between the FCTA
and representatives of the FCT Christian and Muslim communities led
by the FCT Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, Dr
Samson Jonah and the FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen
Mohammed Bello Adigun.
Bello in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony
Ogunleye noted that the FCT is guided by advice from medical
experts and guidelines from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19
which had directed that all measures approved two weeks earlier be
extended for another two weeks, including the restriction on
religious gatherings.
He said; “based on the guidance of the medical experts and
consultations with highest authority, the Presidential Task Force
gave a decision and communication on the fact that all the measures
approved two weeks ago be extended for another period of time to
enable organisations, individuals and all of us plan for a gradual
opening up of the society”
According to the Minister, the meeting acknowledged that the
primary concern of all leaders and public officials was to save
lives and this involves monitoring very closely reports from the
health authorities which indicate that after 9 weeks of the
pandemic and attempts to curtail its spread not much has
changed”
He further explained that all actions on the re-opening of the
society are hinged on the advice of medical experts who at the
moment do not support it.
“In the light of this”, the Minister continued, “the leaders of
the religious organisations have agreed to work towards the
eventual opening up of worship places at a time to be determined by
the Presidential Task Force, based on medical advice”.
In the interim, however, Malam Bello explained that a team
consisting of representatives of the religious organisations and
their leadership, as well as the FCT has been constituted to
gradually look at what the modalities and protocols of operating
places of worship will be when COVID-19 lockdown of the FCT is
relaxed.
He said such modalities were not new considering that certain
protocols were put in place at the height of insecurity in the
country when religious places were the targets for terrorists.
“Therefore certain protocols such as use of face masks
compulsory hand washing and social distancing will have to be
adhered to when places of worship eventually re-open the Minister
said.
“This, he continued, will also include the identification and
placement of modalities for the decontamination of all places of
worship adding that these protocols are necessary so that when
eventually places of worship are re-opened, they will be done with
minimal risks to the worshippers.
“The religious leaders in their comments appreciated the efforts
of the FCT Administration in the fight against COVID-19 especially
in the distribution of palliatives and the meeting agreed that
whatever palliatives were available following the extension of the
lockdown will also be re-distributed through the organs and
structures of the religious organisations.
“The meeting was called at the behest of the religious leaders
who requested for the re-opening of places of worship in the FCT,
following pressure from their followers.
“Also at the meeting were the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu
Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka
Ohaa, the Acting Secretary of the health and Human Services
Secretariat, Dr Mohammed Kawu and other leaders of the Muslim and
Christian communities in the FCT”, the statement added.