Muslims faithful in Okitipupa in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Friday, complying with the state government’s COVID 19 measures on partial re-opening of worship centres.
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent at the Okitipupa Central Mosque during the Jumat Service, revealed that water, soaps and alcohol-based hand sanitisers were provided for worshippers.
NAN reports that Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday directed a “guided” and “syndicated” resumption of worship by Mosques and Churches across the state.
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The state government had directed the closure of both worship centres on March 26 to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
Akeredolu also directed that worshippers must wear a face mask and maintain social distancing while mosques and churches must be disinfected, and provided with soap, water and hand sanitizer.
NAN reports that most of the worshippers were seen putting on face masks and also maintaining social distancing in the mosque as directed by the state government.
Alhaji Kamaldeen Adeyemi-Bagudu, the Chief Iman of Okitipupa during his sermon, urged Muslims to sustain the love that existed in their families during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Adeyemi-Bagudu said that the pandemic had reunited many families and returned love to some shattered homes.
He advised the faithful to be thankful to Allah for being alive to witness the partial re-opening of mosques and called for more prayers to end the pandemic permanently.
“Fathers and husbands should be closer to their families even after the coronavirus because the lockdown has united many people better than what it used to be.
“Muslim faithful should pray for leaders and also that Allah should end the pandemic in Nigeria and the whole world,” Adeyemi-Bagudu said.
He urged Muslims to continue their five-time day prayers at home, noting that only Friday Jumat would be observed in the mosque.
He also urged them to adhere strictly to all government preventive measures on COVID-19.