Breaking: President Muhammadu Buhari Monday lifted the ban on gatherings in and around worship centres across the country.

It would be recalled that the Buhari administration had imposed the ban two months ago to check the spread of the Coronavirus.

Some religious leaders have criticised the Federal Government for relaxing the restrictions of movement in and around market places, while sustaining the continuous lockdown of the religious centres.

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Speaking at the regular briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the President had approved the relaxation of the ban on religious places for four weeks.

“The PTF submitted its recommendations and the President has approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June, 2020, subject to review: “Cautious advance into the Second Phase of the national response to COVID-19; application of science and data to guide the targeting of areas of on-going high transmission of COVID-19 in the country;

“Mobilisation of all resources at State and Local Government levels to create public awareness on COVID-19 and improve compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions within communities; sustenance of key non-pharmaceutical interventions that would apply nationwide and include: ban of gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace;
“Relaxation of restriction on places of worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments,” said Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the task force.