Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, on Thursday, relaxed the restriction earlier placed on religious services and gatherings, allowing once more only a meeting of 50 people or less with strict adherence to social distancing.
However, the current dusk-to-dawn curfew will remain in place until further notice.
The reversal, reports the News Agency of Nigeria, was conveyed in a statement released in the capital, Yola, by the Governor’s Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou.
The state government has been placing controls on gatherings since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic was first reported in contiguous states and other parts of the federation.
The statement quoted Governor Fintiri as saying his government believed that the contagion rate was low enough to justify a cautious easing of the subsisting controls.
“The easing of the lockdown comes as the state discharges five from its isolation center after testing negative of the virus. Therefore, churches, mosques, and the international cattle markets under lockdown can now reopen.”
He warned, however, that citizens must work extra hard on personal hygiene and strict adherence to guidelines. People must ensure social distancing and gather with no more than 50 people at a time. Other measures included the use of hand sanitisers, washing of hands, and temperature checks at the point of entry.
