How RCCG, Ansar-ud-Deen, Afrika Shrine are reacting to ban on large gatherings over COVID-19
Following the flurry of measures being put in place, which included the ban on large gathering of people by the Lagos and Ogun state governments on Wednesday to contain the spread of coronavirus, religious institutions and other organisations in the two states have started alerting their members on how to comply with the directive.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria and the Afrika Shrine are not taking chances, they are some of the bodies already altering their modes of operation and service in compliance with the directives
After a meeting with religious bodies in the state – Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIRC) which include Lagos Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Islamic leaders, the Lagos State was the first among the 36 states to announce a ban on religious gathering of more than 50 people for four weeks following the confirmation of four new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Wednesday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Ogun State followed by banning the operation of cinemas, night clubs, restaurants, cafes and many other businesses that involve large gathering.
“The safety of our people and their welfare are priorities that cannot be toyed with,” Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun said in a press statement.
RCCG, one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Nigeria with presence in 198 countries, over 40,000 parishes in Nigeria alone (as at 2018) and over five million members responded to the government directives by altering its services in its parishes in Lagos and Ogun State in compliance with both government’s directive to curb coronavirus.
RCCG’s assistant general overseer (administration and personnel) Folrunsho Odesola in an internal memo to parishes said the church is amending its worship schedules as a precautionary step towards managing the spread of coronavirus.
He said:
“Parishes that have an average attendance of above 50 members are directed to make use of their House Fellowship Centres to run simultaneous services with the main church,” Odesola said.
“RCCG parishes in both states that have an average attendance of 50 members or less can hold their service without any changes, under the strict directive that worshippers won’t exceed 50 people per service.
The new arrangement shall be in operation for the next few weeks, Odesola said.
A foremost Muslim organization with branches across the nation, Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria has also directed all its members to suspend all religious activities including the Friday Jumat prayer and weekly Asalatu.
- A statement released by the National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Sola Hassan, on Thursday, said the suspension should take immediate effect across the nation.
The statement read: “The National Executive Council, The Trustees and the National Council of Missioners, with heavy hearts and a deep sense of responsibility, hereby announce the suspension of all Mosque activities particularly weekly Asalatu, Jum’ah prayers and any gathering of up to fifty people.
“The suspension of activities shall take effect immediately until further notice.
“This decision was informed by the menacing spread of the novel coronavirus(COVID-19) and Fatwa by World Islamic bodies taking cognizance of the Islamic principles of ‘preservation of life’, ‘prevention of harm’, and ‘proactive response to impending danger’.”
An open air entertainment centre in Ikeja, Lagos which serves as the host location of the annual Felabration music festival, the New Afrika Shrine also announced suspension of its activities on Wednesday.
Afrobeat singer Femi Kuti, who had earlier suspended his Europe tour, also announced the suspension of activities at the Afrika Shrine via a Twitter statement.
He tweeted: “The management of the New Africa Shrine has halted its regular programming as the country and the world at large continue to take precautionary measures against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The New African Shrine is prominent for its many social activities which included music concerts and has become the hub of Nigerians in search of regular live music performance. It replaced the old Afrika Shrine created in 1970 by Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti until it was burnt down in 1977 during an invasion by the Nigerian Army. The President of France Emmanuel Macron visited the center during his visit to Nigeria in 2018.
