The Abia State Inter-ministerial Committee on COVID-19 on Wednesday sealed a popular Church (Chapel of Answers International Church), located at No. 86 Jubilee road by Kent in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state indefinitely.
Our reporter who was with the team reports that when the inter-ministerial committee arrived the church, members of the church who were apparently holding meeting were not putting on their nose mask and didn’t maintain social distancing.
The Inter-ministerial team led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. Chris Ezem also sealed an electrical plaza opposite the Ariaria International Market.
Speaking after the exercise, the SSG; Barr. Ezem said that the church and electrical plaza were sealed for violating the COVID-19 protocol and guidelines.
The SSG who was not pleased with what he met on ground at the Ariaria international market when the team visited that market threatened to shut down the Ariaria International Market if the traders and the leadership of the market fail to comply with the government directives on COVID-19 protocols.
Chapel Of Answer International Church headquarters being sealed by the Abia State COVID-19 Task Force 
Chapel Of Answer International Church headquarters being sealed by the Abia State COVID-19 Task Force 
Chapel Of Answer International Church headquarters being sealed by the Abia State COVID-19 Task Force 
Chapel Of Answer International Church headquarters being sealed by the Abia State COVID-19 Task Force 
Sealing of Electricity plaza opposite Ariaria International Market
According to him, the scenario at Ariaria shows the ineffectiveness of the leadership of the market and members of the COVID-19 task force in ensuring that the guidelines on the reopening of the market was strictly adhered to by the traders and shop owners.
He also frowned at the unhygienic nature of the market where some traders display especially consumable goods on the road, making vehicular movement in the market difficult.
“We are not doing anything that is out of place. Government directives and protocols of religious worship is very explicit. Government directives is that religious worshippers can worship on Sundays; 50 persons per stream, two persons per pew and observe social distance and other protocols.
“We made it clear that there should be no mid-week activities. Lagos State just withdrew from the opening churches and Mosques because of the events that are unfolding.
“We can start risking the lives of Abians. Government is making every effort to ensure that the people are safe. Our numbers (of COVID-19 infected persons) are increasing by the day and it should worry you. We have to be alive to continue to worship. Why would this church be going against the directives against mid-week service?
“The lives of Abians are important to the state government and I am ordering that the pastor be prosecuted for violating government directives.
“We are urging people to wear their face masks, maintain social distance and sanitize your hands. We don’t want the continued spread of this disease in Abia. Our visit today is to go round to make sure that the orders of the state government are adhered to.
“On Ariaria, if we find out any breach of government directives on the condition for trading in this place, we may be forced to withdraw what we have and order a complete lockdown of the market
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The Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Cosmos Ndukwe, his Information counterpart, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu among other officials of government and State COVID-19 team were part of the government personnel in the entourage.
