The Islamic body of Ulamahs has endorsed the Lagos State Government’s decision to restrict gatherings across the State to 25 persons.
This decision was made known on Tuesday at a meeting held with the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Olanrewaju Anofiu Elegushi, in his office at Alausa, when he received the members of the Body in Lagos State.
In his remarks at the meeting, Elegushi reiterated that the government’s directive is to safeguard the lives of citizens while all efforts are geared towards stemming the spread of the disease in Lagos.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by religious bodies so far, urging all religious worshippers to key into the social distancing policy and ensure proper hygiene in their places of worship.
Elegushi further admonished the clerics to always provide verified information to their members as released by the government in order to checkmate the spread of fake news which oftentimes leads to fear and panic among residents.
The Commissioner maintained that all incoming travellers must isolate themselves for a specified period of 14 days for safety purposes, adding that anybody with no serious engagement should observe the stay at home policy to avoid further spread of the disease.
In his own contribution, Alhaji Abdulahi Jebe, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters thanked the Ulamahs for the visit, describing it as timely and instructive.
He, however, called on them to be supportive of all government directives and policies geared towards curbing the spread of the Covid-19 in Lagos State.
Responding on behalf of the Body of Muslim Clerics in Lagos State, Shehu Muhzinu Ajagbemokeferi, said that the decision of the State Government could not have come at a better time considering the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While attesting that the Holy Quran supports the move of the government to avoid the spread of the disease amongst worshippers in Lagos, he promised total support for the State’s suspension of large religious gatherings.
LB/TMS/OS
