Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Rev. Samson Ayokunle has urged state governments, which are yet to reopen worship centres, to do so.

Ayokunle described the continuous lockdown order on places of worship as unacceptable and unreasonable.

Some states like Lagos and Ogun are yet to reopen worship centres due to the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant (Media and Communications), Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, said: “Despite the directive given by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 with regards to the re-opening of places of worship nationwide, some states like Lagos and Ogun are yet to allow worship places, especially churches, to be reopened. What sin have the places of worship committed?

“With the sudden emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, the CAN leadership at all levels agreed with the government on the need to close down the places of worship, economy, schools and every other facet of life.

“But with the reopening of the economy, especially the markets (both organised and the unorganised markets) along with the plan to reopen airports and schools, the closure of churches anywhere in the country is no longer tenable and acceptable. In what way are the opened and roadside markets more organised than the church, which warranted their opening?

“Is it not our members in the places of worship that do go to markets and other sectors opened? Why are they allowed to go to markets and disallowed from going to places of worship? Is it because the marketers cannot contract the virus in the markets and airports?

“It is our opinion that while the government and other relevant stakeholders are working hard to get a cure for the COVID-19 pandemic, the church too has a role to play by seeking for divine solutions as well.”

CAN appealed to the Lagos, Ogun and other state governments where churches are still under lockdown to “relax it for God’s sake”.