COVID-19: Ondo State Cancels Easter Services

The Ondo State Government has cancelled the special concession earlier granted to churches to celebrate the Easter Sunday service.

The Governor of the State, Arakurin Akeredolu made this known via his official Twitter account

He wrote,

"I've heard you all and your concerns on the need to #LockDownOndo. I have just concluded a meeting with CAN and we have resolved that the services will not hold again.  Thanks for your concerns.  Stay blessed and Happy Easter to all.

We have #LockdownOndo as you have all requested. Now, once again, by popular demand, We have commenced the #FeedOndo Project."

In a similar development, a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo on Saturday, stated that the development is due to the concerns raised after the state recorded its second case of the COVID-19 disease.

The full statement;

“This development has once again, reinforced the need to deepen our collective efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement read.

“The Ondo State COVID-19 Response Team has reported that the second index case having travelled from Lagos to Ondo State must give the Government greater concern to avoid community transmission.

“Against the backdrop of the above, the Ondo State Government has directed the cancellation of the special concession granted Churches across the State to celebrate the Easter Sunday/Service. This decision was taken after due consultations with the leadership of the Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN)”.

“In particular, Government has taken further steps to effectively man the boundaries in the light of reported cases of compromise and breach of the directive to close all inter-state entry points into Ondo State."

The state government however  reiterates that all measures and steps taken in respect of COVID-19 still remain in force.