Bishop Oyedepo berates Lagos State for not allowing churches to open on week days

LIVING Faith Church Worldwide founder Bishop David Oyedepo has decried the post-coronavirus faith regime of Governor Babajide Sanwoolu that only allows churches to open on Sundays across Lagos State.

Nigeria, like most other countries imposed widespread restrictions on movement in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, including banning religious gatherings. Of late, however, churches and mosques have been allowed to re-open across many states of Nigeria but under strict conditions, which include the wearing of facemasks and observing social distancing.

In Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwoolu allowed religious centres to reopen as from Friday August 7, which churches only allowed to open on a Sunday . In addition,  the governor stipulated that the faith centres would only be allowed to open once a week and operate at 50% capacity.

Several clergymen have, however, objected to the arrangement, with Pastor Chris Okotie, the founder of the Household of God Church, saying he will not open his church under these conditions. Now, Bishop Oyedepo has waded into the matter, adding that Governor Sanwoolu should allow churches to also open on weekdays across the state.

Under the current regime, across Lagos State, churches only open on Sundays and mosques on Fridays. Speaking on Sunday during his weekly service at Canaanland, Ogun State, Bishop Oyedepo berated the Lagos State government for not allowing churches to open on weekdays, describing it as strange.

Bishop Oyedepo said: “I also heard something very strange last night that Lagos churches open only on Sundays. If I heard well, the markets open every day, public transport opens every day. Is Nigeria still a secular state? Churches in the north open every day.

“My sincere advice to the authorities is that please, review your stand. Since the SS3 students resumed, is there outbreak? The churches in Kano opened about two months and is there any outbreak? Kogi opened earlier on, any outbreak? Before the church will turn to somebody’s pocket, it is time for God to act.

"I decree the opening of churches for all weekdays in Lagos. I told you sometimes past that I hope this is not an anti-church virus. An end has come to every form of assault against the church. Freedom of worship is restored to our nation, from the north to the south, from the east to the west.”