President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide, Lauretta Onochie, says new restrictions on religious gatherings announced by the Federal Government to curb the spread of COVID-19 are not aimed at denying churches offerings and tithes.
On Tuesday, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 imposed a limit on the number of persons allowed at church services and others.
PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, also said that the use of face masks would be enforced.
He said, “Restrict all informal and formal festivity events including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, sporting activities, end of year events shall be restricted to not more than 50 persons.
“Limit all gatherings linked to religious events to less than 50 percent capacity of the facility of use during which physical distancing; mandatory use of face masks shall be strictly enforced.”
Onochie, in her reaction to the announcement, said that the decision “is a matter of life and death.
“This is not an evil government trying to take the joy off of Christmas.
“It’s not a way of denying church leaders their offerings and tithes.
“It’s not the government denying us the opportunity of seeing our families whom we have not seen for a while.
“This is not about Islam versus Christianity. Coronavirus has no religion.”