Should religious centres be completely shut down due to coronavirus?

The Federal Government had directed that religious worship centres be shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic but some have gone ahead to conduct services and prayers, with some coming up with the decision to run shift services. Daily Trust Saturday talked to some members of the public and they shared their views. Abdulrazaq Ishaq, […]

The Federal Government had directed that religious worship centres be shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic but some have gone ahead to conduct services and prayers, with some coming up with the decision to run shift services. Daily Trust Saturday talked to some members of the public and they shared their views.

Abdulrazaq Ishaq, 25, Graphics designer, Kaduna

It is a good call for the government to close down religious centres which would have been an easy place to spread the virus. Nigerians are stubborn people with great love for God, so we will find those who will go against the directive. It will not be an easy task to take away worship from them so I think enforcement will be key in achieving this strategy. Please, I call on everyone to try to stay at home because we do not know from who and where to get infected. The government might be slow in its response but we should also play our part to see that this virus is defeated as quickly as possible.

Alhaji Musa Saidu, 56, Businessman, Port Harcourt

I am not in support of locking down of churches as a result of coronavirus outbreak. If we lock down churches and mosques, how will the people pray and worship their God? I know that government is working towards control of the spread of the virus but total lockdown of churches is not good for spiritual growth and development. My advice to government is that they should take precautionary measures to contain this virus by providing all necessary things such as hand sanitizers, testing kits and mask. Worshippers should also be cautious and observe all the safety tips as it concerns the virus.

Imaculata Ugoh, Evangelist, 37, Port Harcourt

I am in support of the shutdown of churches which I believe will go a long way to curtail the spread of the virus. If locking down the churches is a price we have to pay to bring down the virus, it is a good one. Many countries of the world are taking measures to curtail the spread of the deadly virus so if this is one of the solutions, I am in total support of such decision.
The lives and safety of Nigerians is very paramount and government has the responsibility to protect its citizens.

Sandra Brown, 24, Insurance Broker, Lagos

Yes, but only for the mean time. Before now, we have been able to work well with church services being streamed online, if businesses can be shut down then I don’t see how logical it is for churches to be running. The least number you get in religious gathering is 5-10 house fellowship, then main service 100-3000. Companies staff varies; but for you to have up to 50 staff, then that company is big. Most people aren’t mobile so they’d take bus where they have to sit very close to each other. So, if companies with two or more staff are down because of the virus, how can 100 to 3000 persons be allowed to move about in the name of religious gathering? If these 100-3000 people infect themselves while on transit or during offering in church and they proceed to infect one other person at least, calculate how many people will have the virus. The church is like a market place; you must have something to do with another person, you can’t be by yourself, kids running everywhere, the old is present, young, teens etc.

Fatima Shuaibu, 20, Entrepreneur, Kaduna

Government needs to make swift interventions to ensure that we are all safe, though I believe prayers are of importance at this moment of grief all over the world. Closing mosques and churches is the right choice. The closure may have come late but it is still timely as we still have little time to make changes. There is nothing wrong if we pray at our various homes. I know God is with those who always remember Him, so, He will not neglect us in this time of need. We should pray to Him while healthy because when we get infected it will be impossible to pray at such times of distress. I pray we come to see the end of the virus but before then, we should stay and pray safe at home.

Abor Maryam, 23, Student, Lagos

For me, it’s a two-way thing. Shutting down churches is not a guarantee for the prevention of the virus because the fear of this virus is killing people more than the virus itself so many people would love to go to church, pray to their God, hear encouraging words from their pastors and erase the fear partially if not completely. Equipment to test every member entering the Church should be provided alongside hand sanitizers, face masks and other things. However, the directive by government that a gathering of more than 20 persons should be avoided is also applicable to church gatherings, after all the bible says “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Jesus Christ obeyed certain rules while He was on earth despite his supremacy over the world, so religious leaders should be able to respect the political leaders for now so as to curb the virus, then everyone can return to their normal activities when the virus is finally eradicated.

Aghalibe Patience, 24, Pharmacist, Ebonyi

Religious centres are duty bound to be shut down for the mean time until the virus has been curtailed to a reasonable effect. Religious centres are number one example of ‘crowded’ areas. A lot of religious beliefs encourage ‘the peace’ where members hug and shake hands with each other therefore largely exposing themselves. Although some centres now enforce social distancing with sitting positions but how many of them have adequate spacing for that? However, a big thanks to the internet, now live services can be held online where members can stream from. Self isolation is highly encouraged and should be adhered to.

Umar Mallam Umar, 29, Environmental scientist, Biu

It is only the healthy and living that can attend worship centres; the sick and dead cannot attend churches and mosques. Let us take precautionary measures by remaining at home, which is why the best thing is to lock down the entire country now that we have cluster cases in few states and not all states. My suggestion is beyond worship centres. Stop all interstate travels across the entire federation. After four weeks, any state that has not recorded any case, we can now gradually link them up while focusing our energy in trying to control it in states with cases. A word is enough for the wise.

Leluyii Hope Toesae, 27, Food Scientist, Port Harcourt

Why should worship centres be closed down because of coronavirus? Right now, with the way things are going, there is nothing anyone can do to curb this situation. Experts in the world have tried their best to find a cure all to no avail. The only solution remains prayers and supplications to God Almighty for mercy that will heal our world. To me, just as hospitals should not be closed down during this period, worship centres should not be closed down as well so the battle can be fought and won spiritually while the doctors do the physical.

Abdurrahman Mohammed Umar, 39, Chemist, Maiduguri

Shutting down schools and some other places and allowing markets is work half done. To me, everyone should be ordered to stay at home at least for three weeks without stepping outside. This is not too much to ask for; especially for a virus we cannot contain when it breaks out. It is much cheaper to prevent this than trying to contain it. By doing that, we can easily manage our own cases. I want to use this avenue to plead with private institutions to let their staff stop coming to work just for a few weeks. This will to a large extent reduce risk.