Governor Seyi Makinde has maintained that the state would make the closure of worship centres and religious gatherings voluntary, noting, however, that churches, mosques and other religious centres will be strongly advised not to have more than 50 people gathered in the same place at once.
Makinde, who addressed newsmen late on Friday, after the inaugural meeting of the State’s COVID-19 Task Force, held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said that schools in the state will remain closed till after Easter.
He also declared that the state remained fully committed to the prevention, curtailment and control of the disease.
“For the worship centres, we will make it voluntary for them. We will advise them strongly that they can face their worship but we don’t want more than 50 people in a particular place at the same time. We know that religious leaders are with us on this and they will also do everything possible to ensure that our people are kept safe. But whether they will close the centres or not will be voluntary for them.”
The governor stated that with the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic already threatening federal allocation, the aim of state to develop its local economy such that it would not have to depend on federal allocations remained on course, saying: “We are not there yet, as we are still on that trajectory. Whatever we get right now, we will find means to engage everybody. But in the medium to the long term, we have to diversify our economy so that we stop being dependent.”
