Delta, Oyo Okay Crossover Church Services, As Lagos Places N500,000 Fine For Defaulters

As clock ticks down to January 1, 2021, the governments of Delta and Oyo States have announced measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during crossover church services.

BIGPEN reports that while Delta and Oyo are approving conditional crossover church services, Lagos state, however believed to be the epicenter of the virus is tightening its nozzle with a curfew declared to last between 12 am – 4 am on December 31.

The Lagos state Government went further to warn that any violator will be fined as high as N500,000.

But Seyi Makinde,  the Governor of Oyo State, on Wednesday ‘magnanimously’ lifted the midnight curfew in the state amid fears and indications that the second wave of COVID-19 has begun to spread in the country.

The Oyo state curfew was initially imposed as parts of measures to curtail the spread of the novel virus in the state.

The review of this curfew indicates that the Governor has given a go-ahead for crossover service that usually holds on December 31 in churches in the state.

A statement announcing this decision however noted that residents must adhere strictly to COVID-19 protocols.

“Following a review of the pronouncement of the Technical Team of the Task Force on COVID-19 in Oyo State on 29th December 2020, His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, FNSE, has magnanimously directed that the 12 midnight to 4 a.m. curfew be lifted,” Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to Makinde said in the statement.

“The governor has also warned citizens and residents of Oyo State to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines, protocols and advisories as laid down by the OYO State COVID-19 Task Force aimed at limiting the transmission of the disease in our communities.”

“Secondly, he has directed that enforcement of these guidelines and protocols in accordance with the law will be applied as appropriate, enjoining individuals and organizations to comply and by so doing ensure that we all spread the joy of this season and not the virus.”

In the same vein, the Delta State government says churches across the state are free to hold crossover service to usher in the new year.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu who disclosed this on Wednesday, said however that the churches must ensure that the relevant NCDC protocols are adhered to.

Aniagwu who also urged the churches to maintain the fifty per cent capacity as directed by the state government further clarified that there is no curfew in the state.

Meanwhile, the government of Lagos State, however,  has imposed a 12 am – 4 am curfew on December 31 with a notice that any violator will be fined as high as N500,000.

Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy,  who announced the decision of the state government in an interview with The PUNCH noted that the most important thing is for residents of the state to take responsibility during the period.

“If you flout any of these rules, you can be fined. You will be taken to court and the magistrate will decide on the sanction. The fine can be between N20,000 and N500,000. It depends on the magistrate’s discretion,” Omotoso was quoted as saying.

“But it is not just about punishing people. People are being advised to take responsibility. The regulations were rolled out as an advisory and people have been obeying while people who have disobeyed have faced the consequences.”

Omotoso said he was optimistic that churches follow the instructions of the state government.