Crossover Night: FCTA Insists on 50% Hall Capacity for Religious Centres

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has issued a reminder to places of worship to ensure that social gathering for the annual crossover night services is limited to 50 per cent capacity of the hall capacity.

Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, issued the directive yesterday.

He said the order, which was issued by the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat as a precaution to the spread of COVID-19 remained sacrosanct and enforceable.

He, therefore, urged worship centres planning elaborate New Year Eve celebrations to obey instituted authorities and adhere strictly to the recommended preventive measures and health guidelines.

According to him, the ban on nightclubs and other social gatherings where physical distancing and non-pharmaceutical intervention could not be achieved also remained in force.

Attah lamented that 863 new cases of coronavirus were recorded between December 26 and 27 this year within the FCT, adding that the report also revealed that 80 new cases were recorded in the nation’s capital on December 28.

He disclosed that the FCT Minister had at different occasions met with religious leaders and other stakeholders to create synergy against the deadly pandemic, and also reiterated their commitments to keeping Abuja safe and secure.

He appealed to religious leaders and residents to ensure complete compliance with all the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Health and Human Services Secretariat, noting that the enforcement team would be mobilised to track down violators and make them face the laws of the land.