COVID-19: Why COZA is holding Sunday service despite calls for social distancing

The Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) is not bothered by the many calls for social distancing as one of the best measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Amidst moves by religious and business organisations in Nigeria to suspend services and other activities that may attract a large gathering of people, COZA says its usual Sunday service will hold in Abuja today.

Churches like the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Celestial Church of Christ, Daystar Christian Center, among others have all suspended service in parishes with more than 50 members, but COZA one of the popular Pentecostal churches in Nigeria, with a membership of thousands of people said it will not suspend its Sunday service.

This is despite the announcement by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control that first three cases of the virus were confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Saturday, bringing Nigeria’s confirmed cases to 22.

In a social media statement shared on its official Instagram handle and by its Senior Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, COZA explains why and how it plans to hold the services and said it believes in the blood of Jesus to protect its members against contracting the virus.

“We are geared up to excitedly receive you tomorrow 22nd of March by 7:30am at our #CentrePointCampus, Evelyn Event Centre, Gwarinpa,” the church wrote.

“Worshippers can be assured of our unwavering commitment to a clean and conducive environment for service. Your safety is paramount to us and we are complying with the directives of the FCT administration by ensuring:
Temperatures are measured using electronic thermometers
Availability of alcohol-based sanitizers
A considerable space between worshippers
Effective airflow systems
Above all, the blood of Jesus severes us from this pestilence.”

The church’s headquarters located in Abuja always attracts thousands of worshippers during its Sunday services, its main auditorium and overflow are always filled to capacity.

The outrage that trailed the rape allegation scandal by Busola Dakolo, a celebrity photographer and wife of singer Timi Dakolo against Fatoyinbo in June 2019, didn’t deter thousands of members of the church from pouring into the Abuja headquarters to worship just two days after the scandal broke the internet. The church’s main auditorium and overflow were filled to capacity, even as hundreds of protesters lined outside the church.

It is, however, not clear yet if the fear of COVID-19 will stop COZA members from gathering in their usual thousands to worship in the church this Sunday as Fatoyinbo has declared that service will hold with an assurance that the ‘blood of Jesus will severe from pestilence’.