…. Lifts ban on Church service
Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Government has approved the sum of N1 billion to fund the palliative measures initiated to cushion the effects of the corona virus on the citizenry.
In the same vein, the state government has lifted the ban on church services from 8:00a.m -12 noon, on Sunday, on all worship centers in the state as a result of the pandemic.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barr. Uchenna Orji, made the disclosure, on Wednesday, during a joint media briefing with the Senior Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on Religious /Welfare Matters Reverend Father Abraham Nwali on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.
Barr. Orji said that the Executive Council considered the need to give palliatives to the people of the state considering the quagmire the epidemics has created on the people.
“State Executive Council has approved N1 billion. for the purchase of 400,000 number of 5kg rice, production of 400,000 face masks to be distributed to the citizenry of the state.”
The commissioner restated that the government has equally lifted the restriction imposed on burials stating that people are now free to bury their dead ones.
“Burial must take place between 9th -20th April 2020, must be approved by the government and must be attended by not more than 20 members of the family.
“Executive Council looked into the request of the people to bury their dead relatives, and has earmarked 9th- 20 April 2020 as dates to allow people bury their dead relatives.”
He outlined the conditions to be fulfilled by relatives before such burials could take place to include “securing approvals from the government , furnishing government with dates and location of the burial, compliance of all precautionary measures against corona virus such as washing of hands with sanitisers, wearing of face masks must be complied with.
Contributing the Senior Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on Religious and Welfare Matters Reverend Father Abraham Nwali, said that the government has lifted the restriction on church service from 8am -12 noon, on Sunday.
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“All churches whether worship centers, must maximize the time approved by government from 8am -12 noon, task force would go round churches and monitor any violation of the conditions, face masks musk be used, nobody must worship without masks”
Rev. Father Nwali however maintained that the lifting of the ban was only for church services stating “no night crusade, no vigil would be tolerated.
Churches must make sure their environment are kept clean, maintain the social distancing, provide running waters for washing of hands by worshippers among others,” he reiterated.
