BY:VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
Cross River state governor, Sir Ben Ayade, has ordered the re-o>ening of public worship in the state.
A statement issued and signed by Mr Christian Ita, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the governor said the governor had expressed his gratitude 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 the state in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Ayade, the statement added “acknowledges that the understanding and cooperation of religious leaders contributed immensely in keeping .the State Coronavirus Free thus far.”
The statement said “conscious of the Spiritual Economy, and in response to appeals by religious leaders in our state, His Excellency has issued the following executive orders, that “the order suspending public worship in the state, is hereby lifted with effect from Sunday May 24th. 2020”.
“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 Mosques”
That the use of nose mask is compulsory for all worshipers.
The statement directed that Churches and Mosques should provide buckets for hand washing, or sanitizers, henceforth.
It further advised Churches and Mosques to strickly keep to the above instructions. The enforcement team will still go around to check compliance, it added.