On March 29, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari announced an initial 14-day lockdown in Lagos, Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory in a bid to slow down the infection rate of COVID-19.

A couple of days later, the lockdown kicked in officially as regular major public gatherings ceased to take place including church and mosque services.

While the underlying notion for the lockdown was to ‘flatten the curve’, the disruption of church service and gatherings hasn’t gone down well with some influential Christian leaders.

After a month of lockdown and another month of gradually lifting it, churches are still closed despite offices being allowed to operate.

Popular man of God, David Oyedepo of Faith Tabernacle also known as Winners Chapel, has constantly criticized the government for not allowing churches to reopen despite the pandemic.

“There is something wrong; for people to be allowed to be in the market for six hours and can’t be in church for two hours, it is an upside-down way of looking at things,” he said.

“Which one is more orderly? The market or the church? I can smell a rat. The Lord spoke to me on it so strong yesterday.”

Another influential Christian leader, Pastor Chris Oyakhliome stated that men of God who support the closure of churches must be benefiting from the government.

While these two key figures represent a number of Christians who want churches to re-open, there are concerns that if this is allowed, the country will witness a huge spike in COVID-19 infections especially in Lagos which has been a hotbed for the virus.

On June 1, 2020, Nigerians would know if a new lockdown will be enforced or lifted.

However, do you think churches should be re-opened immediately or should they still be closed until COVID-19 infections reduce?

I think love for humans should be the primary motive behind whatever religions do. This is what every religion claims to preach. If the state deems it fit to allow time to pass in view of the recent records on covid 19, religions should support it if really their motive for wanting to reopen isn't for money-making. There are other avenues such as via zoom by which congregants can meet and worship. At this point, love for fellow humans should be the motive behind our actions.