Kunle Adelabu
Several Churches across Ikorodu division on Sunday reopened their auditoriums following the directive of the Lagos State Government after several months of closure due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of the residents expressed their happiness for the resumption of the church services and also expressed gratitudes to God for making them survive the pandemic period.
THE IMPACT covered the church services in four major Churches in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area, Ikorodu West LCDA and Ikorodu Local Government.
Our reporter observed that many of the Churches conducted their services within an hour while those with large congregations had multiple sessions.
Also, Churches visited by our reporter provided necessary facilities like hand washing equipment, sanitisers and thermometer in accordance to the requirements stipulated by the government.
Also in compliance with the government’s directives, children and elders were not allowed to partake in the church services while physical distancing were strictly observed in the sitting arrangements.
Mr Okelarin Afolabi, the senior Steward, Patriarch Bolaji Methodist Church, Ita – Elewa, lkorodu, speaking with our reporter, gave thanks to God for the reopening of churches and stated that the Church compiled with all the government regulations.
“First and foremost, we have to return all glory to God for His grace in our lives. We thank him for sparing our lives in our Church and nation at large to survive the pandemic during the trying period.
“In respect of the guidelines stipulated by the government under the able leadership of Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, we are able to complied nearly 100%. We have been able to put all the necessary facilities in place”, he said.
“We have the sanitiser, hand washing machine, thermometer and we also have a register for all those that attended our services . Our Church workers are on ground and they discharged their responsibilities accordingly.
“We also maintained 2 metres spaces in the sitting arrangements and as you can see, we also have signs on the desks in the church to indicate where people can sit and where they cannot”, he added.
“Our congregation is over 1,000 but for today, youths were restricted to their wing. We also prevented children from attending service and advised our elders to also stay away due to the government’s directive.
Mr Okelarin also maintained that they were able to control the crowd by asking elders to watch the service live online and that the church also observed multiple sessions.
“We encouraged them to watch our service live online at home and be in spirit with us.
“We are able to control the service and made arrangements to break our service into three sessions. We had the English Service between 8am and 9.00am and we had an hour interval to disinfect the auditorium. We have finished the first Yoruba service and this is the second one”.
Bro Lekan Eyikogbe, a senior official, United African Methodist Church (UAMC), Eleja, lgbogbo, also expressed gratitude to God for the reopening of the religious centres.
“It gives us great pleasure for us to come back today and give thanks to God after going through the pandemic period.
“People are very eager to worship and from their body language today, they are happy to be here.
“The capacity of our Church is between 500 and 600 (ground floor and gallery). But today, we are having about 200 congregation. Not many people are aware that service has resumed. And you can see, we complied with all the regulations stipulated by the government”, he explained.
Pastor Banjo, the official in-charge of the security, Joy Cometh Ministries, Ipakodo, Ikorodu West LCDA, also speaking with our reporter, said that the Church observed three services within an hour to control the crowd.
“We actually observed two services and spent just an hour in order to control the crowd and adhered strictly to the government directives”, he said.
“Before the COVID – 19, we used to have nothing less than 3,000 population for our service and we are aware that majority of the congregation are eager to come for service today, so we had to acted fast.
“Our elders and children have been affected by the government’s directives and as a result, did not come for service because we have been able to reach out to those concerned and many of them are also aware of the government’s directives”.
Like others, he said that the Church, which has one of the largest congregations in Ikorodu, adhered strictly to all the regulations stipulated by the government.
“You can see how we space our chairs to regulate our members. We also adhered strictly with every other precautions”.
When asked about how the congregation feels about returning to Church after about five months, the Pastor said:
“One of the most beautiful things in life is to have the opportunity to meet your brethrens. And by His grace, none of us is missing, both home and abroad. Our God is so wonderful.
“We were able to come together, waved to one another and laughed. There were no hugging and handshakes. We are what we are, obedient children of God. We are to be good examples to others to learn from.
“It was painful for people not to attend services in the past months. But all power belongs to God. Your money can buy you the best bed but may not give you the best sleep. See the mighty with money and security”.
Cathedral Secretary, The African Church Bethel Cathedral, Aga, Ikorodu, Oluwaseyi Adelabu, also speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the reopening of the Church made members to feel happy and grateful to God.
“We feel very happy and you can see the congregation dancing, rejoicing and thanking God for preserving their lives and for the opportunity to witness the first Sunday service after the lockdown.
“We are all happy and glad that we are all alive with our families and friends and well – wishers. We give glory to God that the pandemic is coming to an end and very soon, it will be over”.
He said that the Church in compliance with government’s directives only allowed about 150 members into the church for the service against 250 that they usually accommodate.
He also added other measures stipulated by the government were adhered to strictly.
“The Church was built to accommodate 1,000 and 1,200 members. Before the pandemic, we used to have between 250 to 300 regular congregrants but today, you can see that those inside the Church are not up to 150”, he said.
“We try to observe the protocol stipulated by the government. At the main entrance and other entries into the Church, there are hand washing facilities and sanitisers. You can also see that pews that normally contain ten people at a go are just accommodating two people each.
“You can also see our protocol officers at the entrance of the church with a register. We have done our best in complying with all the regulations by the government”.
