By Elijah Ugani – Calabar
The Cross River State Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade has lifted the ban on religious worship in the state with effect from Sunday 24th May, 2020.
In a release sighted by theluminenews and signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita indicates that all religious leaders must adhere to all the rules binding citizens during this period as the enforcement team will go round to check compliance.
Recall that the Governor had through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita directed all religious worship be suspended in line with the measures to contain the ravaging pandemic, codenamed Covid 19.
The release reads in parts “His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade KSJI, the Governor of Cross River State, is very grateful to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Pastors, Christians of various denominations, and the entire Muslim community for their support and cooperation during the period of suspension of public worship in our state in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
“His Excellency acknowledges that the understanding and cooperation of religious leaders contributed immensely in keeping our State Coronavirus Free thus far.
“However, conscious of the Spiritual Economy, and in response to appeals by religious leaders in our state, His Excellency has issued the following executive orders:
“1. The order suspending public worship in the state, is hereby lifted with effect from Sunday May 24th. 2020.
“2. Consequently, starting from Sunday, May 24, 2020, church services are permitted but should be limited to the sitting capacity of the Church. Same applies to the Mosques.
“3. Use of nose mask is compulsory for all worshipers.
“4. Churches and Mosques should provide buckets for hand washing, or sanitizers.
“5. Churches and Mosques are advised to strickly keep to the above instructions. The enforcement team will still go around to check compliance”
