Covid-19 Curfew: CAN orders Lagos churches to close by 11pm —- Sam Adeyemi says, “Just crossover”

Covid-19 Curfew: CAN orders Lagos churches to close by 11pm

—- Sam Adeyemi says, “Just crossover”

Abiodun OBA

All churches in Lagos state have been directed to close cross-over services by 11 pm on December 31, 2020.

Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)Chairman, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, at a media briefing on Monday, debunked reports that the association was at loggerheads with the state government over the timing for cross-over services.

Recall that the state government had ordered churches to “respect” the 12 a.m to 4 a.m curfew in place in the state to check the spread of COVID-19.

“As part of our responsibility as a law-abiding organisation and in response to the appeal made to us by the State Government, we hereby direct that all churches should ensure their services on 31st of December, 2020 end at 11:00 pm so as to allow attendees get to their respective homes and places of rest on or before 12:00 midnight when the curfew will start,” Adegbite said.

He assured that the body is making arrangements for live TV broadcast that would begin at 11:30 pm and end at 12:30 am for people to join from home

Meanwhile, Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre has advised people not to get themselves stressed up following the restrictions placed on cross-over services in worship centres in some states in Nigeria.

In an apparent reaction on Twitter, Adeyemi said, “If you say “Happy New Year” at 2pm on 31st December in Lagos, you won’t be wrong. You’ll only be joining people in Sydney, Australia, to say it at that time. In fact, you’ll be 10 hours ahead of others in Nigeria. Don’t stress over time to crossover. Just crossover.”

Recall, that in Lagos State, the curfew runs from 12am to 4am, which is part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The Cross River State Government advised worship centres to schedule their services within the permitted time because the curfew it declared between 10pm to 6am is still in place.

The directives issued by states will prevent worship centres from holding their cross-over services up to 12am which is usually when worshippers say “Happy New Year” to each other to herald a new year.