Churches, Mosques in Ogun remain closed till June 19—Gov Abiodun

&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Ogun State governor&comma; Dapo Abiodun has said  that churches and mosques in the state will remain close till June 19&comma; 2020&period; The governor also said that a committee task force would determine the next line of action in reopening of religious centres&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Abiodun said this while addressing journalists &nbsp&semi;at the governor’s office&comma; Oke-Mosan&comma; Abeokuta on Friday&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">All &nbsp&semi;days of the week-Monday to Friday- are still opened for businesses and other economic transactions with only Saturday and Sunday as lockdown days including strict observation of dusk-to-dawn curfew as directed by the Presidential Task Force &lpar;PTF&rpar; between 10&period;00pm and 4&period;00am daily&period;”<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">The Governor however promised to prosecute any religious gathering that violates the guidelines of the state government&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Abiodun &nbsp&semi;explained that the committee which&nbsp&semi; comprises &nbsp&semi;religious leaders from Christian Association of Nigeria and the Leagues of Imams and Alfas has been given a deadline of June 12 to come up with the guidelines for the reopening&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">He added that he will announce the guidelines for the reopening of religious centres in his next week briefing&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">He noted that hotels&comma; bars and other public places except markets would remain closed&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">In his words &comma; &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;A sub- committee&comma; inclusive of the religious leaders&comma; will review the submissions&comma; the discussions as well as expert opinions of medical scientists to harmonise all the views to arrive at a composite framework for final adoption of the committee in the next few days&comma; on or before Friday&comma; 12th June&comma; 2020&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;The 12th June deadline for the completion of the guidelines&comma; which will be unveiled to the public in my next address is to enable the gradual opening of religious activities to tentatively commence on Friday&comma; 19th&comma; June&comma; 2020&comma; subject to the review of preparedness by our churches and mosques to the new normal&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;A taskforce comprising of the religious leaders&comma; government and security agencies will be established to monitor and ensure compliance with the agreed guidelines for religious activities&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Any place of worship that violates the guidelines will be closed&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;The guidelines will be reviewed at regular intervals&comma; based on developments&comma; including expert opinions and data from the field&period;<br>In the meantime&comma; Government will continue the engagement&comma; as well as intensify enlightenment and education of the public on the various guidelines to combat the pandemic in the State&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Let me restate that all the existing guidelines to combat COVID-19 in the State remain in place&period; He maintained that the weekend remain lockdown&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;