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| Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state |
As Lagos state enters the second phase of ease of lockdown, Govenor Sanwo-Olu Babajide has said religious houses can open in two weeks time but members in attendance must not exceed 500 at each service.
Sanwo-Olu stated this while releasing fresh guidelines for the second phase of the ease of lockdown at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos on Thursday.
He said they should open at maximum of 40 per cent of their membership but any religious house with larger congregation where the number exceeds 500 at that percentage can have more than one service.
The religious houses are only to run Sunday services for churches and Friday Jumat for Muslims, but are barred from vigils and other weekly services.
The governor also said those below 15 years of age and above 65 years old should not be allowed into places of worship โbecause those within that age bracket are extremely very vulnerable to the pandemicโ.
He also urged all religious houses to adhere strictly to safety measures like fumigating and keeping the premises clean, making sure worshipers wear face mask before entering, use of sanitiizer etc.
Adding that the Lagos State Safety Commission will not only register but will be going round to check level of compliance and that the state government has the discretion to stop or restrict worship where there is no compliance.
Sanwo-Olu said primary and secondary schools will remain shut because the government is still consulting with all stakeholders in the sector and will come out with guidelines for their re-opening in two weeks time, and that the on-line classes for tertiary institutions continue.
As from next Monday, according to the governor, civil servants on levels 13-14 can resume with their senior colleagues on level 15 and above, while levels 1-12 should wait.
All other guidelines are as announced by PTF on Monday and they include: curfew from 10p.m-4am, full re-opening of banks and other financial institutions, offices and busines places to operate from 7am-6pm; manufacturing companies permitted to do night shift but to make arrangement for movement of staff.
Hotels and hospitality businesses are also free to open while restaurants will open for take away services only, however, gyms, spas, cinema, event cents, nite clubs and all other such services remain closed and cross state journeys remain banned.
The governor admonished Lagosians to wear face mask always saying the level of compliance on wearing of face mask was not encouraging, adding, โlet us self-regulate ourselves, regulate your conduct or government will regulate you.โ
Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that the government will deploy 570 buses on the BRT corridor on various routes next week and that the buses are being cleared from the port.
