Federal Government Threatens Crossover Service

The annual crossover service held by religious organisations across the Nation has just recently come under threat as the leader of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), Boss Mustapha, who is also the secretary to the Federal Government, declared that due to the rising numbers of covid-19 cases in the country indoor religious gatherings should be limited to 50% capacity with full compliance to covid-19 health and safety measures.

In Nigeria, crossover services are significant events held every year on the night of the 31st of December to usher in the new year. Even last year during the COVID period, crossover events were held.

This is a time when mostly Christians among other religions, gather to pray and worship their Maker for keeping them throughout the year and for the gift of a new year. Usually, the service begins a few hours before midnight and ends just after the new year has just begun, this depends on the denomination of the church.

Due to the large number of people in attendance at crossover services across the country, the PSC has said that they have been reduced compliance with public social health measures which has resulted in an increase in the Covid-19 cases in the country.

The committee however stated that they may need to introduce new covid-19 restrictions if the number of cases continues to skyrocket in this period of time.

Part of the statement released by the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 reads "We recognise the importance of the Christmas and New year celebrations nationwide. As we prepare to celebrate and spend time with our loved ones and families, it is important that we do so while complying to the set Covid-19 public health safety measures and the necessary precautions to curb the spread of Covid-19 across the country."

The PSC wishes to remind Nigerians that we are currently going through the 4th Covid-19 wave in the country as the number of cases continues to rises across the country, this is as a result of the very low-level of vaccination coverage in the nation, increased travels and movements in this festive season, reduced compliance to public health social measures and highly transmissible Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant now circulating in the country.

The statement further reads, "indoor religious activities should be limited to just 50% capacity with full compliance to public social health measures; face masks and hand sanitizers you should be used at all times regardless of vaccination status while in public space."

Just moments after the release of this statement by the PSC, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urged Christians nationwide to adhere to Covid-19 protocols as much as possible.

However, CAN criticized the government for the directives that all gatherings must not exceed 50% capacity.

The spokesman for the CAN president, Rev. Bayo Oladeji, complained that such directors were always issues during Christian holidays.

"Nobody is enforcing anything in the markets. If you go to the banks, you will see crowds. Even if you go to the airports, you will see crowds. There is no social distancing. I was at the international airport two weeks ago. People were standing. There is no social distancing."

Last year's crossover night service did not hold in most churches due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This mainly affected big churches like Winners and Christ Embassy. Most Christians in the country have always believed that the current government is trying to attack the Christian religion specifically and with this new directive, many will feel they were right. In truth, these directives are only in place for the safety of all Nigerians and there is no need for agitation.

Though a part of me still feels they have something against Christians. During Muslim holidays we don't see anything like this. Anyway let's just watch and see how it all goes down.

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Thank you for reading and Merry Christmas.