The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has directed churches in Nigeria to observe March 22 and 29 as days of prayers against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Nigeria and globally.
CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Pastor Adebayo, on Thursday, advised all churches to follow the guidelines for combating COVID-19 in all gatherings.
He noted that ban on the presence of more than 50 people in a gathering had been placed by most state governments and urged them to use house cell based service or online service.
Ayokunle said that where possible, particularly for churches who do not have online system, services can be broken into shifts of not more than 50 members in each shift.
“CAN has called on all churches in the country to set aside March 22 and 29 apart to pray for an end to Coronavirus Pandemic in Nigeria and all over the world.
“Our prayer points should be that God should stop the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria and all over the world. God should also protect Nigerians from this disease.
“We should also pray that God should heal those that are already infected,”he said.
The CAN president also advised churches to follow the directive on religious gatherings.
“Each branch or assembly should provide alcohol-based hand rub sanitizer for use and regular washing of hands with soap and water.
“Maintain at least one metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
“Drink hot water regularly and practice respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze.
“Dispose the used tissue immediately. If you have fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, then seek early medical care,” he said.
He advised christians to pray with Psalm 91 and have faith in God that the virus would become history all over the world in Jesus Name.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Government has directed the closure of public and private schools in the state for 30-days, to contain spread of coronavirus.
Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, made the disclosure at a press conference on Thursday in Kano.
Sanusi said the closure of the schools will be effective from Monday, March 23, adding that the decision was part of precautionary measures against the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
He enjoined parents and guardians to evacuate their wards from boarding schools not later than Sunday, March 22.
According to him, the move was part of conscious effort to prevent children and their teachers from becoming vulnerable to the pandemic.
“The closure is not intended to create panic but a preventive measure in the face of threat posed by the disease across the globe,’’ he said.
The Commissioner further urged parents to encourage their children to remain at home and observe high standards of personal hygiene.
In Oyo State, the State Football Association has suspended all football activities for four weeks as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.
James Odeniran, the state FA Chairman, who made the announcement on Thursday in Ibadan, said the suspension was in line with the directive of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
NFF had earlier announced cessation of all football activities in the country for the next four weeks as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“I hereby mandate all football activities including all schools and local football competitions in the state to be suspended with immediate effect till the next four weeks,” he said.
The state FA Chairman advised all chairmen of Football Associations across the five Zones and 33 local government Areas in the state, stakeholders and other members to adhere strictly to the directives.
Odeniran also urged them to adhere strictly to the various safety precautions and measures as advised by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, such as hand-washing, use of sanitizers and social distancing.
He warned that anyone who refused to comply with the directives would face the consequences from the board.
Also, the Governing Board and the Executive Council of the University of Ibadan Muslim Community (UIMC), on Thursday, announced the suspension of their weekly Jum’ah Prayers and any other mosque events of more than 50 people gathering.
The suspension was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Imam, UIMC, Prof. Miftah AbdulRahman in Ibadan.
The Chief Imam said that the decision came having considered the recent global occurrence around COVID-19 pandemic, especially the official revelation that the Ekiti state index case stayed in Ibadan for 14 days.
“In effect, Jum’ah prayers starting from 20th March are suspended until further notice.
“This announcement will help us in the UIMC to proactively respond to COVID-19 virus and prevent its spread.”
AbdulRahman urged members to pray at their respective homes and observe personal hygiene.
“While they continue their Adhkar for Allah to a halt this deadly plague.
“Furthermore, members should constantly recite Ayatul-kursiyy (Q2:255),” the Chief Imam said.
He urged members to strictly adhere to the health guidelines laid down by the University of Ibadan Health Services.
The Lagos State University (LASU) has postponed its 24th Convocation Ceremonies indefinitely.
Mr Ademola Adekoya, the institution’s Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, said this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.
The convocation ceremonies were scheduled for Friday, March 20th to Friday, March 27.
Adekoya said that the postponement was as a result of the prevailing health threats occasioned by coronavirus pandemic.
“The resolution of the Federal and State Governments is to discourage the gathering of people in public places at this point.
“The management regrets every inconvenience this postponement might cause to all our graduating students, awardees, family, friends and other stakeholders of the university.
“Further information on the 24th Convocation Ceremonies will be made available in due course,” he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the conduct of four senatorial by-elections indefinitely as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The commission disclosed this in a statement by Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Thursday in Abuja.
Okoye said the by-election, which included Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West Senatorial Districts, Imo North Senatorial District and Plateau South Senatorial District, were postponed until the situation normalised.
He recalled that INEC received notification of vacancies for the Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West Senatorial Districts following the swearing into office of Sen. Diri Duoye and Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa respectively.
He also recalled that the Commission also received the notice of vacancies for the Imo North Senatorial District following the death of Sen. Benjamin Uwajumogu and for Plateau South Senatorial District following the death of Sen. Longjan Datong.
“Arising from the declaration of vacancies by the President of the Senate, the commission commenced preparations for the conduct of by-elections to fill these vacancies.
“However, given the health emergency occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic and the preventive measures put in place by the health authorities, federal and state governments, the commission has decided to postpone the four senatorial by-elections until the situation normalises.
“This is in line with Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which empowers the commission to postpone any election in the event of any emergency or natural disaster.
“The Commission is compelled to take this step in recognition of the fact that all major activities in the electoral process involve large gathering of people.
“These include the conduct of political party primaries, campaigns, stakeholder meetings, training and deployment of election and security personnel, movement of accredited observers and journalists, congregation of voters and other stakeholders at polling units, as well as the collation centres,” he said.
Okoye said while INEC acknowledged the right and desire of citizens for effective representation, there was an over-riding public interest in ensuring the health, safety and well-being of all stakeholders.
He added that the timetable and schedule of activities for the postponed by-elections would be issued as soon as the Coronavirus pandemic was contained.
Okoye, however, said that the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states scheduled for September and October respectively were not affected by the postponement.
“We appeal for understanding and cooperation of all,” he added.
The European Central Bank (ECB), on Thursday, launched 750 billion euro emergency bond purchase scheme in a bid to stop a pandemic-induced financial rout from shredding the euro zone’s economy.
ECB has also raised fresh concerns about the currency bloc’s viability.
With much of Europe in lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak, economic activity has come to a near standstill and markets have been in a tailspin, foreshadowing a deep recession on par with the 2008 global financial crisis.
It has also raised questions about the euro zone’s cohesion at times of stress.
Under pressure to act to bring down borrowing costs for indebted, virus-stricken countries such as Italy, the ECB launched a new, dedicated bond-purchase scheme.
It has however brought its planned purchases for this year to 1.1 trillion euro with the newly agreed buys alone worth 6 per cent of the euro area’s GDP.
ECB President Christine Lagarde said after an emergency policy meeting on Wednesday that extraordinary times require extraordinary action.
“There are no limits to their commitment to the euro.
“We are determined to use the full potential of our tools, within our mandate,” Lagarde said.
According to ECB, the bond purchases will continue until the crisis phase of the epidemic is over and non-financial commercial paper will also be included for the first time among eligible assets.
Although global stocks continued to fall after the ECB’s move, the euro held broadly steady and bond yields in the bloc’s periphery tumbled, with Italy leading the way with a 90 basis point drop on its 10-year benchmark.
“Although it will still buy government bonds according to each country’s shareholding in the bank, the so-called capital key,’’ the ECB said, noting that it would be flexible and may deviate from this rule.
This was seen as a clear indication that it will not tolerate the surge in yield spreads between euro zone members seen in Italy and Greece in recent days.
Euro zone officials, who were critical of the ECB’s stimulus measures recently, rushed to the bank’s support this time, with French President Emmanuel Macron leading the way.
