As the novel pandemic continues to gain wide spread in Abia state, more churches in Umuahia have continued to pay lip service in total disregard to government directives and order on Covid 19.
The Umuahia North Council chairman, Comr Lucky Akabuike, who went round Umuahia metropolis to monitor the level of compliance of churches to government’s covid 19 directives, observed that it was a case of some churches obeying strictly, while some disobey with impunity.
According to him, the rate at which some new generation churches flout government order, has become worrisome, adding that any church who cannot keep to the rules should be closed down, serving as deterrent to others.
Akabuike said already Abia has a case of community spread and if individuals, corporate bodies as well as religious organizations do not encourage the use of facemask in public places, maintain social distancing and observe a regular hand washing, then the lives of Abians might be threatened.
The council boss further revealed that over 80% of these churches uptil now, still allow children to worship without given consideration to the fact that children are more vulnerable to the coronavirus if exposed.
In his words, ” It is very dangerous to gather children at this time to worship, knowing that they are most vulnerable to the virus. Children do not know what is social distancing, they can touch anybody at anytime while playing, even if you give them facemask,it cannot be on their face for long. Parents should help the government by keeping their wards at home for now, so we don’t begin to record under- age infection”, he pointed.
The council chairman also revealed that the Umuahia North would make its recommendation to higher authorities to take swift action against these churches as they are repeatedly in defiance to government rules of the mandatory fifty worshippers per stream of every church service, as well as other necessary protocol on general hygiene, wearing of facemask and social distancing during and after church service.
Akabuike,while pleading for total compliance to the outlined safety guidelines, begged religious leaders to ensure they enforce these rules among their members so that Abia can be safe.
Some of the churches visited were Wesley Methodist Cathedral, St. Peters Presbyterian Church, Kingdom Stakeholders Revival City, Dunamis Church,Better Covenant Church, Streams of Joy, Deeper Life Bible Church, Mountain of Fire, The Lord’s Chosen, Christian Pentecostal Mission, Blessed Chapel, Salvation Grace of God Ministry, Apostolic Christian Church, among others.
