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Like Ondo, Rivers govt cancels Easter Sunday church services over COVID-19

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The Rivers State Government on Saturday reversed its decision to allow Easter Sunday service in churches across the state.

Rivers became the second state to reverse its decision on the Easter Sunday service after Ondo State government had had earlier on Saturday cancelled church programmes after the state recorded its second case of coronavirus.

The state government had last month banned religious gathering of more than 50 people in the state.

However, the state government on Thursday temporarily relaxed the restrictions on large religious gatherings to enable Christians to carry out their religious obligations during the Easter period.

Governor Nyesom Wike said the directive also permitted the Muslim community to observe their Jumat prayers within the period.

But in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim, the government said it had cancelled the concession granted churches to hold full Easter church service.

READ ALSO: 10 of Osun’s 17 COVID-19 patients test negative twice

The statement read: “The Rivers State government has cancelled the concession granted churches to hold Easter church services with their full congregations.

“This decision was taken after due consultations with eminent clergymen, well-meaning Nigerians, and civil society groups.

“For the avoidance of doubt, churches should stick to the 50 persons per service to maintain social distancing.”

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