Nigeria reaches apex of COVID-19 Community Transmission — As Bayelsa seals Igbogene Living Faith Church, 5 others

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on #COVID-19, PTF, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, on Sunday said Nigeria has reached the apex of community transmission and must get the communities involved in the fight against #COVID-19.

Mustapha revealed this to State House correspondents after a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to update President Muhammadu Buhari

He explained that 20 Local governments out of 774 account for 60 percent of confirmed cases in Nigeria today and these 20 local government are in communities.

While addressing the issue of easing of lockdown, Mustapha said he can assure about one thing, that the ownership of the next phase will be the responsibility of the states under national supervision and coordination because Nigeria has gone into community transmission.

According to him, the communities are in the states so the ownership of the next phase will be that of the states, the local government areas, the traditional institutions, the religious leaders at the different levels of the communities because that is where the problem is.

He further stated that the states are sub-nationals, they have their own responsibilities too, so it is in the exercise of those responsibilities that they had meetings with religious bodies and agreed on the guidelines and protocols on how they open up.

Meanwhile, six churches in Bayelsa state have been sealed up for breaching ”operational protocols” required to conduct services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recall that the state government on May 7, relaxed its restriction on social gatherings and allowed churches to hold services with up to 50 worshipers.

The relaxation was granted, subject to compliance to strict conditions on provision of handwashing facilities, wearing of face masks and observance of social distancing in the seating arrangements.

Bayelsa Ministry of Information,Permanent Secretary, Mr Freston Akpor, however, said on Monday in Yenagoa, that the Security Sub – Committee of the state’s Task Force on COVID- 19, sealed the churches during its surveillance on Sunday.

“The six churches were sealed for failure to comply with safety measures put in place by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic and protect the people of Bayelsa.

“The affected churches are, Living Faith Church, Igbogene, Salvation Victory Centre, Igbogene, Shalom International Christian Centre, along Tombia-Amassoma road and Great Grace Distinguished Assembly, Okutukutu.

“Others are Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Opolo and Hebrews International Church, Ayama road.

“The churches will remain sealed until further notice to serve as deterrent to other churches.

“The move will help in ensuring that other churches adhere to the protocols on hand washing, use of face masks and social distancing as measures to check the spread of the virus in the state,” Akpor said.

He said the security sub-committee of the task force on COVID-19, unsealed two churches earlier shutdown for violating safety measures on the pandemic.

Akpor explained that the two churches, the Halleluya Deliverance Ministry International and Embassy Faith churches were unsealed after undertaking to comply with prescribed safety protocols.