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Following the reopening of worship centres, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have commenced working on safety guidelines at worship centres in a bid to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in churches and mosques.

The guidelines when concluded would be submitted to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for review.


NSCIA said it has set up a committee to work on the COVID-19 Worship Centre Guidelines, while CAN will hold a virtual meeting with its blocs in other states on same guidelines.


Speaking, NSCIA spokesperson, Ibrahim Aselemi said " A committee has been set up to work out the modalities as requested. I shall make the details known to you as soon as they are okayed by my superiors."


In an interview, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to CAN President, Adebayo Oladeji said "We are working on them (the guidelines) and whenever the NCDC and the PTF are ready, we will surely submit. The highlights are based on the guidelines on how to safeguard our members during the worship with a view to stopping the spread of coronavirus while the worship lasts. It is about the social distancing, soap, water and sanitisers."


"The CAN President, Reverend Supo Ayokunle, is very busy at the moment as he has been having series of meetings with various groups for hours. We are not sure of how long the meeting would last because there are two more groups waiting to meet with him separately this evening," a top CAN official told the newspaper.


"This is related to the guidelines on modalities to follow after the lockdown is lifted. There will be clearer picture by tomorrow (Wednesday). After the consultation with the leaders of the blocs in CAN, a virtual meeting would hold. Perhaps, the online meeting on Wednesday (today) would lead to the constitution of a committee that would make recommendation on the final steps to be taken.


"After the meeting, a clear picture will be given. I think the foundation upon which steps to follow would be based is being laid at the moment," the official added.