DESPITE directive by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) against religious gatherings of not more than 50 persons, not fewer than 20 churches in the FCT, Abuja held church service, opening gates to hundreds of worshippers, The ICIR can report.

The ICIR visited over 20 churches in different areas of the FCT and found that 90 percent of them held physical services and some even held multiple services to accommodate large numbers.

In a press statement shared on its official Twitter page, the FCT Administration on Saturday, warned against religious and public gatherings, limiting such meetings to a maximum of 50 persons.

The announcement was made in line with public health guidance – to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country and to make contact tracing by health authorities easier.

However, the directive was disregarded by many churches as church leadership across the FCT encouraged members to attend worship services with no adequate measures in place to identify suspected case of the virus.

Rather, in attempt to keep members ‘protected’ against the virus, some of the churches provided hand sanitizers at the entrance of the church, pouring it on the palms of members as they enter into the church.

Then members proceeded to sit close to one another in the church where service continued for an average of two hours.

As at the time of filing this report, Nigeria has recorded 27 cases of the coronavirus.

Lagos has recorded 19 infected persons, Abuja has four cases, Ogun has recorded two cases and Ekiti and Oyo have registered one case each.

FCT churches visited by The ICIR

The ICIR reporters who went round Abuja found contrary to the government’s directive that many churches indeed held Sunday services with members in full attendance.

Winners Chapel also known as Living Faith is one church with thousands of branches across Nigeria.

In the FCT, all branches visited by The ICIR were in full service.

The branches include Living Faith Gwarimpa, Nyanya, and Dawaki. All the three branches started church service as early as 9 am as indicated in their programme of service.

Also in Gwarimpa, The Transforming Church (TTC), resumed at 8:30 am, while the church authorities advised members on the threat of coronavirus. The church service commenced officially by 9 am and members were instructed to sit one seat apart from one another .

Most Redeemed Church branches in Abuja visited by The ICIR followed the directive of the Church General Overseer, Enoch Adeboye that members should stop holding physical service in view of the pandemic coronavirus.

Members were advised to gather in house fellowships for worship. Some held their service online, The ICIR gathered.

Redeemed Christian Church of God, Yimi road, Ikwa, appeared to be an exception as it held its church program with scores of members in attendance despite warnings from the FCTA.

In Zuba/Madalla axis of FCT, at least 11 churches were seen holding their services with hundreds of members in attendance.

READ MORE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/over-a-dozen-churches-in-fct-disregard-warning-against-large-religious-gathering-hold-sunday-service/

Strong faith