•Osun bows to pressure, relaxes regulations
By Onyebuchi Ezigbo
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday urged churches to comply with all government regulations to combat the spread of COVID-19 while conducting their crossover services.
Against the backdrop of the controversy between churches and the association on the duration of crossover vigil, the association directed its members to close up shop by 11pm.
CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, in a statement, said the advice was necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection.
“We understand the unfortunate state COVID-19 infection has put everybody world over, which caused some state governments to place total ban on crossover night service and we are not happy that we would not be able to enter into the new year prayerfully in joint fellowship with our brothers and sisters.
List Of States Where Crossover Service Is Restricted Or Banned
This time, however, crossover service will be celebrated differently due to the pandemic. Here are states that have announced a ban or restriction on crossover service
by SaharaReporters, New York
Dec 30, 2020
In a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus, many states have either banned or restricted crossover service, a tradition by Nigerian churches in which worship is held on the last night of the year until the early morning hours new year day.
The crossover service often attracts huge worshipers in which church leaders make proclamations for the new year.
COVID-19: Osun gives fresh directives on New Year crossover
Published
It decided to allow cross over religious gatherings.
DAILY POST reported that the State government last week insisted that it has placed ban on countdown to new year ceremonies or cross over services in the State due to COVID-19.
It has now made a u-turn on its earlier order. According to the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, in a statement, this was due to “sensitive mood of the season.”
According to the new guideline, any organisation holding cross over service must close the service early and “everyone must be off the streets by 1:00am.”
Share
Osun State government on Tuesday announced that it would allow crossover services to hold in the state on Thursday night but added that such services must be closed early and everyone must be off the streets by 1:00 a.m.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, on the Twitter handle of the state government, the sensitivity to the mood of the season has necessitated a review of its earlier position that such crossover services would not hold in the state.
According to the statement: “The government of Osun State has decided to allow crossover religious gatherings, but any organisation holding crossover services must note that they are expected to close the service early and everyone must be off the streets by 1:00 a.m.
Osun State Government has rescinded its decision to ban churches from holding cross-over services.
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday signed by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode.
In the statement titled, ‘Covid-19: Osun gives fresh directives on Crossover Service’, the commissioner said the government’s sensitivity to the mood of the season has necessitated a review of its earlier position.
Egbemode said, “The Government of the State of Osun has decided to allow cross over religious gatherings, But any organisation holding cross over service must note that they are expected to close the service early and everyone must be off the streets by 1:00am.