After weeks of closure of worship centres in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, due to the consistent rise in cases of infections of COVID-19, the Lagos State Government has resolved to gradually allow religious leaders in the state to commence religious activities respectively in their places of worship.

It said this decision a part of the outcomes of several consultations with concerned stakeholders including the religious leaders.

Lagos was the first state in the country to have witnessed the index case of the coronavirus on February 25, 2020 by an Italian with travel history from countries with high rate of infections of the virus and since then it has become the epic centre in the country to the alarming increase of COVID-19 daily.

According to the latest data released by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) via its Twitter handle Tuesday, confirmed cases in the country have risen to 13,464 while 5,875 cases confirmed, 944 patients recovered and 72 deaths recorded in the state.

To some extent, the staggering continuous rise in cases in the state might be preventing residents from not going out as they should despite the second phase of the gradually easing of the lockdown in the country. Apart from the figures, some are still in the dilemma if the COVID-19 is real or not while some attribute the virus as being a disease of the rich therefore feeling reluctant of contracting the virus.

The skepticism surrounding residents’ indecision to resume going to their various worship centres fully or remain at home can be hinged on several reports in other climes whereby government easing the lockdown have recorded spikes in cases of the virus.

For nearly four months of non-religious activities in the public space, religious faithful of diverse faiths have been observing their respective religious activities (midweek and Sundays) in the comfort of their homes as churches were streaming their services live for members to participate likewise Muslims in some cases during the Ramadan fast.

As the Lagos State Government plans to reopen worship centres on June 19, 2020, a larger proportion of residents in the state want to resume going back to their respective worship centres.

One Michael Ajayi said, “The news for the avoidance of doubt states that church operation regulations would be decided by each state. If I can go out to make ends meet, then nothing stops me from joining the fellowship of the brethren.”

“Staying safe is still the best but as the situation stands this is becoming a life style, so let’s follow suit.”

Ajayi’s opinion is not different from others who have equated normal and survival activities to religious activities.

Also, the initial lockdown at the early stage was hardly adhered to by some residents who solely depend on daily commercial activities to survive after the Federal Government stylishly proved it is incapable of providing palliatives to every citizens except the vulnerable whom it termed as “poorest of the poor” in the society.

Joshua, a committed member in his church said, “Well I attended service this past Sunday and will do the same.

“It’s best we all learn to live with this thing, because, the way I see it, vaccines will still take close to 18months before approval due to various testing phases, temporary cures can begin to manifest within months though,  but halting social,  religious and economic affairs for that period is not something the world can afford right now.

“We can only create measures of curbing the virus which are definitely not working perfectly.”

Inasmuch as the state is yet to reach its peak of flattening the curve of the virus why allowing public gatherings such as the religious to re-congregate after studies have shown that transfer of the virus was high when there are large gatherings, some residents like Alawoki Akeem said, “I am staying at home for sure.”

It is important to note that it is the right of religious leaders to decide whether to heed to the decision or refrain from it and continue with the ‘new normal’.  

Although, there have not been any vocal pronouncement by various religious leaders either to follow the state’s decision or to keep their centres closed, the fact, however, remains that COVID-19 is real.

It the duty of the federal and state governments to ramp up testing, speed up search for local remedies and engage in aggressive community communication for enlightenment and awareness of the reality of COVID-19 in the country.