By Uzor Odigbo
The federal government has eased the ban on religious gathering across the country, even as the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has reduced the nationwide curfew from 10 pm to 4 am.
The government had imposed the ban two months ago to check the spread of coronavirus.
But at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday, Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman of the PTF, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the relaxation of the ban for four weeks.
“Relaxation of restriction on places of worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments.”
“The PTF submitted its recommendations and the PRESIDENT has approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June, 2020, subject to review-
“Cautious advance into the Second Phase of the national response to COVID-19; application of science and data to guide the targeting of areas of on-going high transmission of COVID-19 in the country;
“Mobilization of all resources at State and Local Government levels to create public awareness on COVID-19 and improve compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions within communities; sustenance of key non-pharmaceutical interventions that would apply nationwide and include: ban of gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace.”
The National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, announced at the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja, the nation’s capital, that, “Effective from tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, the easing of the lockdown will be characterised by the following: The nationwide curfew will remain in place but the timing of this will be reduced to 10pm-4am.”
“And just to clarify, the purpose of the curfew is to limit social interactions and, therefore, reduce the risk of transmission of the virus,” he added.
Dr Aliyu echoed that persons who are on essential duty remain exempted from the curfew as the nation moves into the second phase of the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown.
He stated that such persons include healthcare and media services providers, as well as those working in the nation’s critical sectors.
The PTF national coordinator also announced the reopening of the nation’s financial sectors, adding that they would be fully operational.
He said, “There will be a full opening of the financial sector, with banks now allowed to operate normal working hours – five days a week.
“The mass gathering of 20 people outside of a workplace or places of worship remains prohibited.”
“There will be controlled access to markets and locations of economic activities, but local authorities will continue to provide guidance on opening times,” Dr Aliyu added.
He explained that the restricted opening of places of worship would be based on the protocols of the respective state governments.
According to the PTF national coordinator, this will be done with strict guidelines on physical distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions and would apply to regular church and mosque services only.
On movement from one state to the other, he said, “All interstate travels by individuals remain prohibited except for essential travel and the movement of goods and services.
“Just to make it clear, all restrictions on the free movement of goods and services are now removed in this phase.
